The first test 3 years ago indicated dementia and he was put on medication. At that time, doctor advised he not drive. Which he did grudgingly. Further MoCA test that year still indicated mild cognitive disorder. The yearly visit with neurologist is coming up and he could possibly pass a MoCA test, due to the medication delaying progression of his dementia. Thanks for your opinion.
Sure, there very well will be a battle over driving. No more driving when there's been a dementia diagnosis.
Hate to say it too but better if he did not pass.
Would it be possible to pass a test now? It doesn't matter what we think, what matters is what actually happens. The ALZ drugs really only fend off the progression for about 2 years. Like others have pointed out even if he does pass this time he won't in the near future.
Does he still have a valid driver's license? If not, he may need to take the test again.
We always had about 10-15% improvement every summer. She moved more in the summer and got out in the sunshine some in the summer. She lived in a climate where it was gray in the winter. Even with the improvement in the summer over all she declined each year.
Anything is possible with this disease. Mom also had the capacity to learn new patterns for the first 12-13 years of the journey. This is something that really surprised me.
I'm curious if your husband is on one of the newer meds for Alzheimer's?
Mom was on the older meds that in studies were showed to slow the progression of the disease by 5% in early stages but not improve the brain. She was on Mementine and Aricept.
I believe there are 1 or 2 newer meds on the market that may give better results than the older Memantine and Aricept.
The newer meds target the amloid plaques in the brain.
If he is on lecanemab, donanemab or trontinemab it will be interesting
to see how he performs on the test. These are the meds that target the amloid plaques. I don't think your husband will have improved scores if he is on the Memantine and/or Aricept.
He went from a perfect driving record — no fender benders, no speeding tickets, nothing for about 60 years!! — to losing his way and not realizing it for HOURS, driving 60 mph on the shoulder of the road, severe tailgating, and then driving straight through a 4-way stop sign in broad daylight — one that he had successfully navigated 100s of times before — and this time, he t-boned another car and wrecked his own car.
All this, and he could pass the MOCA easily until 2-3 years later. My point is, someone who is unsafe to drive is unsafe to drive. Period.
If he is insisting he can drive and wants to overrule the doctor (I don’t recommend this) but you could ask him to take another driver test. Written and in person behind the wheel. The risk is he might pass and then cause horrific damage.
Furthermore, these doctors need to grow a spine and tell them they can’t drive , when it’s obvious they should not be driving regardless of a MoCA score .
I’ve had more than one family member with dementia who’s memory wasn’t that bad , but they had a slew of other dementia symptoms , requiring 24/7 supervision.
My sister had some temporary memory improvements on Aricept . Her judgement , reasoning , behaviors and anosognosia did not improve . The improved score emboldened her and made her less cooperative . Now she is declining again, but is still emboldened and uncooperative .
Should your husband "pass" the test and ask about driving, I'd suggest asking your doctor to order a driving assessment. This is typically done through the Department of Motor Vehicles in your area and includes both a "desk" test and a behind-the-wheel test. The state staff then determine whether or not he is still safe to drive and, if so, if limitations should be placed on his license, eg no night-time or highway driving, driving within certain mile restrictions, etc. If he is determined not to be safe, his license will be taken away by them, not by you.
It is a difficult thing to have someone stop driving. You did this 3 years ago, so this is something you no longer have to deal with. Lives are at stake.
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