My mother has just been tested for the possibility of dementia and the ct scan said that.

I cannot get into the doctors until midweek and was wondering what that meant.

She is 81 years old.

Cheers

Wackett

I Googled a bit and found this --

From medfriendly.com --

Periventricular white matter refers to white matter that is immediately to the side of the two lateral (side) ventricles of the brain. The lateral ventricles are two curved openings (shaped like a horseshoe) located deep within the top section of the brain. White matter is a group of white nerve fibers that conduct nerve impulses quickly. White matter is important for muscle movements. ... Periventricular white matter changes means that there has been some change in the structure of the white matter near the ventricles of the brain. ... People with periventricular white matter changes usually perform in the low average range or worse on tests of psychomotor speed.

Has your mom slowed down a lot, gets confused, is different from how she used to be?

"barely any periventricular white matter hypoattenuation"

In simpler terms this means that there is little loss of white matter nerve fibers around the cerebral ventricles. Loss of white matter (composed of nerves encased in myelin sheath) is to be expected as we age. After 60-65 attenuation (or reduction) is usually detectable and expected. Hypoattenuation is just a fancy term for not bad.

Wondergirl did a good job of providing a description, if you would like to see cerebral ventricles go here (http://www.google.com/search?q=ventricles&hl=en&rlz=1C1CHNV_enUS365US365&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=Ol_DTcSdJ4uUtweQisWRBA&sqi=2&ved=0CEQQsAQ&biw=1104&bih=702).

The ventricles (total of 4 - ventricular system) are cerebrospinal fluid filled cavities situated more or less in the center of the brain.

Yes, yes and yes..

I thought it might be old timers or dementia that is why I got the aged assessment team in to assess so I knew what I was dealing with..

So it not as bad I as had been expecting -- dementia and old timers really scares me, could not imagine how you would handle your parent not knowing you..

Thanks, will sleep better until Tuesday.. We had blood tests done also so maybe there is something phyically that they can treat and I will get my old Mum back.. I do not mind minding her and looking after her, sort of paying her back for raising me but arguing about having showers and being clean when she was so so particular, does get to me..

Thanks you for the quick response..

Wackett (Kerry)

I thought it might be old timers Just an FYI... it's Alzheimer's, not old timers. ;)