A: There could be many causes of the symptoms you describe including your mother’s diet, medications, or a mix of factors. Your mother also may have a medical condition other than Alzheimer’s disease that is causing her to be confused and forgetful.

You should encourage your mother to have a thorough physical examination performed by a reputable geriatrician. An excellent place to find such a doctor, or team of doctors, is in the geriatric department of a teaching hospital. The JCA Senior HelpLine -- Email or call (703) 425-0999 or (301) 255-4200 -- may be able to identify options for you.

You and your mother also may want to conduct some research on Alzheimer’s disease by reading the information provided by the Alzheimer’s Association and Medline Plus, a library presented by the National Institutes of Health.  Educating yourself may alleviate some of your concerns and direct you to local and online support groups.