[Warning] The “Fake Dementia” Doctors Are Missing
For months, Betty thought she was losing her mind.
Her memory was failing.
She struggled to remember conversations.
And her personality was changing.
The diagnosis seemed straightforward. Early dementia.
But one brain test revealed a stunning truth. She wasn’t losing her memory at all.
Her brain was being hijacked by 17 hidden seizures a day.
Betty’s story raises a troubling question:
How many seniors are being told they have dementia…when something entirely different is happening inside their brains?
Well, we have the answer…and it’s not good…
Betty’s story is more common than most people realize.
As many as 1 in 4 Alzheimer’s diagnoses are dead wrong.
And while that doesn’t mean dementia isn’t real, it does mean thousands of seniors may be receiving a devastating diagnosis while the true cause of their symptoms remains undiscovered…
And untreated.
In Betty’s case, doctors eventually ordered an EEG—a test that measures the brain’s electrical activity.
And the results were shocking.
Over a 24-hour period, the test recorded 17 separate seizures. Not dramatic seizures that caused her to collapse to the floor. Not the kind most people associate with epilepsy.
These seizures were happening deep inside a part of the brain called the temporal lobe—the region heavily involved in memory, emotions, and behavior.
Which explains why Betty’s symptoms looked so much like dementia.
Her memory was deteriorating. Her mood was changing. And everyone assumed Alzheimer’s or age-related cognitive decline was to blame.
But temporal lobe epilepsy can create many of the same symptoms.
Some patients experience memory lapses.
Others become confused, anxious, depressed, or emotionally withdrawn.
Many simply appear to be “slipping cognitively.”
And because older adults don’t always display the classic signs of epilepsy, the condition can be easily missed.
But temporal lobe epilepsy is only one example of a much larger problem.
Researchers have identified numerous conditions that can masquerade as dementia, including depression, vitamin B12 deficiency, thyroid disorders, medication side effects, drug interactions, infections, dehydration, and even sleep disorders.
Many of these conditions are treatable.
Some are reversible.
Which is why experts increasingly warn against rushing to a dementia diagnosis without a thorough evaluation.
If memory problems appear suddenly, fluctuate dramatically, or don’t follow the steady downward progression typically seen in Alzheimer’s disease, it may be worth digging deeper.
A second opinion, medication review, blood work, neurological evaluation, or EEG could reveal a completely different explanation.
The lesson here isn’t to ignore dementia.
Alzheimer’s disease is real and devastating. But so are misdiagnoses.
And when a treatable condition is mistaken for permanent brain decline, precious time is lost.
If you or a loved one has been told it’s “probably dementia,” don’t be afraid to seek a second opinion.
To asking questions,
Ray Thatcher
Research Director, Health Sciences Institute
Sources:
Kunesh, J., Varkey, T., Meyyappan, A., Christianson, J., & Chrisman, C. (2026). “A new type of dementia—called seizures”: temporal lobe epilepsy presenting as episodic neuropsychiatric symptoms. Academia Medicine and Health, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.20935/AcadMedHealth8284
Cohen, A. (n.d.). Alzheimer’s misdiagnosis & the benefit of a radiology second opinion. DocPanel. Retrieved June 3, 2026, from https://docpanel.com/alzheimers-disease-and-benefit-radiology-second-opinion
