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… stages, many patients are mis- diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder," said Daniel Meknes, M.D., professor and chair of neurology, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. "Depending on the…
… an accurate diagnosis of my husband's health:' said Mickey, who kept insisting her husband get an MRI to reveal the problem. The situation became aggravated when Erwin threatened to do bodily harm to…
… and medi- cated him:' Mickey said. "I knew the diagno- sis was wrong. He never showed exaggerated mood swings. I wanted him to have an MRI of his brain to find the brain tumor:' Botsford didn't keep…
… patients could sign themselves out at any time. He was given more medication, but there was still no improvement. "I ranted and raved again and this time they took an MRI of Erwin's brain. The doctor…
… reported that I was wrong — Erwin didn't have a brain tumor, but the frontal lobes of his brain looked like Swiss cheese. Erwin was diagnosed with Frontotemporal dementia (FTD)." In FTD, portions of the…
… brain's frontal and temporal lobes atrophy. These brain locations are associated with personality, behavior and language. It is one of the few dementias that are seen in people under 65 (mostly in ages 40…
… didn't get a diagnosis for over two years:' Erwin voluntarily signed himself out of the Beaumont facility. Psychiatric Services at St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital in Madison Heights was willing to take…
… him into their program until the family found a more per- manent residence. "Beaumont gave us a directory of facilities that would accept Erwin, and my daugh- ters Audrey and Sara and I started making…
… calls," Mickey said. "Sara searched for help using Google and found the Alzheimer's Association Greater Michigan Chapter in Southfield. She asked for help and they sent a social worker to my home to work…
… of some- one with dementia is not so devastating on the fam- ily:' says Gayle Burstein of the Detroit chapter. "We Gayle Burstein know there are very few programs for early-onset dementia, and there is…