Does anybody have any experience with alzheimer's disease?

[straightforward]

My 90-year-old mother was just diagnosed with dementia. It came on suddenly, but we think that she has been hiding it.

She is striking out, refusing care, confused, disoriented, sad, crying, withdrawn, and agitated. She has to be watched 24 hours a day because she wants to keep throwing herself out of bed or the wheelchair.

This is so sad to see.

She is currently on western medications. I know it takes awhile to get into the system. Has anybody had any success with alternative medicine, i.e. herbs or acupuncture?

Thank you.

[lilroo24]

my dad has early on set dementia. I have read up a lot on it but unfortunately was too late for him.

You can ask for a blood test for b-vitamins. Quite often a high dose b-vit injection can help as those with dementia can be severely lacking.
If it came on suddenly it could have been accelerated by a stroke as this can cause dementia as it did with my nan.
This is a helpful association to get advice and help from - http://www.alzheimers.org.uk
and it has a facebook group too - http://www.facebook.com/alzheimerssocietyuk
It can be very distressing to watch a love one go through this, find a local group that you can go to where people can give you the support you need.
Love Ruth