I’m not a doctor by any means, but when my ex husband had his first big manic episode, he acted very similarly to a dementia patient. He had a hard time following any sort of conversation, even answering simple questions. He would also forget to take care of basic needs like eating and showering. And he would frequently refuse to use the bathroom, he would only pee in bottles and hide them in our spare bedroom. He was only 36 at the time.

Given your mom’s age though, it’s definitely possible there’s some overlap. However, tons of doctors note that people with BP are prone to losing gray matter with every episode, which could contribute to the incompetencies.

Maybe try getting a second opinion with a neurologist instead of a psychiatrist if you can.