A Case of PTSD with Delayed Expression in a Patient with Advanced Alzheimer’s Dementia

An 81-year-old white male with a medical history that includes Alzheimer’s disease, hypercholesterolemia and a previous history of colon cancer and skin cancer presented to the emergency department from home due to escalating behavioral disturbances. At time of arrival, he was unresponsive to questions from nursing or providers. Instead, his eyes were shut, he ignored outside influences, and he was chanting and speaking loudly with minimal pauses. The patient is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War where he served three tours of duty; his third tour was in the Cambodian campaign. He appeared to essentially be relieving his time in Vietnam and is unable to be redirected to the present moment which is likely being mitigated by his ongoing advancing dementia.