Visit with Neurologist

The MRI looks relatively good. The white spots are nonspecific white matter. They can be caused by migraines, diabetes, head injury, and high blood pressure. They could be recent additions or have been there for 50 years. Unless there are a lot of them, they don’t increase the risk of stroke. The white spots are probably related to Ed’s migraines, but there’s no way to make them go away. If another MRI is done in a year or two, they will probably be there.

Ed’s blood pressure was 158/98.

Ed’s sharp increased pain and frequency of migraines and memory loss is suspicious because of the high blood pressure. The doctor recommended a Calcium Channel Blocker, which is a preventive migraine medication and one side effect is it lowers blood pressure. Ed will need to take it every day to help prevent migraines.

The doc also prescribed a more in-depth neuropsychological test to help determine the cause of the memory loss. Poor Ed’s on so many meds right now that they could be causing some of the memory loss.

The doctor did not mention MS. While he cannot rule out Alzheimer’s, he does not think it’s likely the cause.