Gun Control Reform Activism
In reply to the discussion: My 93 year old Alzheimer's father pulled a pistol on his caregiver: [View all]enough
(13,455 posts)we assumed that his problem that he was a lifelong drunk, and an angry asshole drunk at that. When he finally got the diagnosis of Alzheihmer's/dementia, the doctor couldn't believe how far along into the disease he was. The alcohol symptoms masked the dementia. The explosive hair-trigger anger and paranoia are classic dementia symptoms.
There's only one hopeful thing I can tell you. Once he got the diagnosis, he also got some medication (Seroquel). As soon as he started taking the medication, he LOST ALL INTEREST IN BOOZE. This is a man who had been drinking steadily and heavily for 65 years. Alcohol defined his life and the life of his family. Literally the day he took the first pill he never had another drink and never had the slightest interest in having a drink. He never even mentioned it again, even if other people were drinking around him. I've wondered many times what would have happened if he'd gotten some medication earlier in his life.