Many people with dementia who fall ill can’t express their symptoms, and early coronavirus markers may look similar to their other pre-existing conditions. That means COVID-19 can go undiagnosed in the early stages. hereandnow
and separated them from their loved ones. But for dementia patients who contract the virus — and for loved ones like Jackson — the coronavirus can be especially devastating.
There may also be a genetic factor. A recent study from the University of Exeter and the University of Connecticut shows that people with the APOE e4e4 gene variant, which is closely linked to Alzheimer’s, had a higher risk of contracting severe COVID-19. “If you put delirium into an acute illness experience, it's notorious for extending the time of recovery, complicating recovery, and, frankly, increasing the risk of death,” Karlawish says.
Karlawish says hospitals should start thinking about allowing caregivers inside with dementia patients. He points out that hospitals still allow one parent to accompany a child admitted with COVID-19. “[Delirium] also increases the likelihood, if you recover, of never going back to the way you were before, cognitively,” Karlawish says.She’s been a full-time caregiver for her mom, Gloria Norton, for years. She says illnesses and even life events — dad’s death one year, a bad flu another — have always seemed to speed up her mom’s dementia.Taking care of her mom as dementia progresses is a full-time job. But her sister takes over a few days each week, and they’ve hired a part-time aide.
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