My husband is in the mid stages of AD, he has started itching every day around 5 pm. Usually his shoulders but it seems to move around. Never complains all day, but the minute darkness starts to set in he starts itching.
Anyone else experience this ?
Thanks
Kathy

Kathy—I’ve had no experience with Alz. related itching but suspect that it will stop if you give your husband a antihistamine when it starts. There are several OTC ones. Talk to your husband’s Dr. or your pharmacist to find out which one they suggest and give it a try.

Itching could simply be an allergy. Is there anything that either of you comes in contact with close to 5 PM that he could be allergic to? For example: Does the dog sit in his lap at around that time? Do you use a household cleaner or light scented candles nightly at around that time?

Itching is sometimes a form of anxiety attack. When I was in 2nd grade I would often start itching and break out in hives every morning when I arrived at the school bus stop. My parents thought it was an allergy and unsuccessfully looked for the cause. When the teacher (who I hated) left in mid term, the itching stopped.

If you don’t get any more answers,I suggest that you ask the same question on the Caregiver Message Board. It is open to all and more widely read.

Thanks for your reply Skericheri, I do not think it is an allergy. I would be more inclined to think it is anxiety. It is shortly after I get home from work, and I hate to say it but I think it stress' him out. During the day he is home on his own, watching TV, and taking it easy. He knows that when I get home I will question him about his day etc. I think it is a sign of his anxiety of having to remember how the day went and what he did.
Yet I think it is important to still engage him in conversation to keep his mind working.
Just my thoughts.

Kathy,
My mother died last March from Alz at the age of 94 and she would do the same thing around the afternoon to her scalp and do it quite often . I thought it was her hair being done ,

Just some thought and hope this helps

Thank you all for your supportive suggestions, most of the time I am homebound (especially in these winter months ahead, New Jersey) as caregiver for my 69 year old husband, and these forums help educate me. I noticed my husband's scalp itching and frustration episodes peak at 10 pm to 1 am, and that is early morning itching. He makes his scalp red and I try to keep it moisturized.

My mom is in midstages of Alzheimers and started having anxiety attacks last spring. No specific trigger and they deminished for a while but have returned with a vengence. She gets them several times a day now and also complains of a very itchy brow along with weak legs. Not always experienced in unisome. All this causes significant fatique as does the anxiety medicaiton. I think much is caused by fear and independence.

I have attributed an increase in all of my symptoms around this time to the end of the workday and peak cell phone volume times. I believe EMF/RF exposure is involved in Alzheimer's.

Mystery in the Skin:

http://www.feb.se/ARTICLES/OlleJ.html

I am also wondering the relationship of EMF/RF
exposure. My husband a cardiologist 68 has AD and had large exposure to EMF with non-stop cell phone use. Do you have any info?
Please advise.