Brain scan day

Several weeks later, following Mum's doctor's visit, the MRI appointment finally arrived. In the car, Mum and I discussed her worries. I reassured her that whatever the outcome, we would see it through together. But first, we needed to find out what was happening and why she was feeling the way she was. Mum knew where this was heading; I was sure she did, and it was frightening for her. She requested that I stay with her during the MRI scan, but I was unable to do so. I informed the radiographer of her anxiety and was reassured that she would be in good hands. The process would take around 20 minutes, so I waited in the car.

Mum often joked about "going a bit funny," laughing it off. Perhaps she wasn’t ready to face it, or maybe she was in denial. To be honest, at this point, I didn't really know what to expect. If anything, I thought she might have had a stroke. I had never seen Mum like this before, making it difficult for me to understand what had triggered it. Was she influenced by the fear spreading during the pandemic, as we were still processing the changes it brought and trying to get back to normal life? Did this overwhelm her with worry?.

To this day, we will never know. After 20 minutes had passed, the radiographer walked Mum back to the car, offering a softened look and reassuring her that everything was "all done; go and enjoy your afternoon." They knew, of course they did, but they weren't allowed to share the results instantly.

There is no definitive way to determine how long someone has been developing Alzheimer's, and research suggests it could have been progressing unnoticed for many years.