There are many different causes of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is just one of the most common. Some forms of dementia can be reversed. Unfortunately, despite recent medical advances, Alzheimer’s cannot. That’s why it’s crucial to pinpoint the exact cause of the symptoms.

Expect your doctor to spend a great deal of time gathering the patient’s complete medical history, doing a thorough examination and ordering several tests to make sure Alzheimer’s disease is the correct diagnosis.

MEDICAL HISTORY

The first thing the physician will need to do is pinpoint when the onset of behavior and cognitive changes occurred. This is done by interviewing the spouse, caregivers, family members and friends. He or she will want a precise list of any prescription or over-the-counter medications the patient is currently taking. Also expect the doctor to thoroughly explore any history of stroke, alcoholism, head trauma, diabetes, thyroid disease or seizure.

The doctor will also want a information about the patient’s education level, work history and the medical history of all close family members.

EXAMINATION

The doctor must first rule out any other diseases with symptoms that mimic Alzheimer’s disease, such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke, brain hemorrhage and tumors. He or she will perform a battery of standardized tests to evaluate language skills, perception, orientation, motor skills and memory.

TESTING

Several tests are typically done before the final diagnosis is given. Blood work can rule out other causes like thyroid disease, B12 deficiencies and syphilis. A Computed Tomography (CT) scan of the brain takes about 10 minutes and allows doctors to see “slices” of the brain so stroke, tumors and other uncommon causes of dementia can be ruled out. More detailed brain images can be gained from a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). This takes slightly longer but provides more detailed images.

Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s disease is often slow to progress and getting a correct diagnosis isn’t a speedy process either. But proper treatment can often slow the progression of the disease and reduce the severity of the symptoms.

About The Author

William G. Hammond, JD is a nationally known elder law attorney and founder of The Alzheimer’s Resource Center. He is a frequent guest on radio and television and has developed innovative solutions to guide families who have a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s. For more information you can visit his website at www.BeatAlzheimers.com.

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Alzheimer's... What Is Alzheimer’s Disease? Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease that robs individuals of their memories, ability to recognize their loved ones or even to complete simple tasks for themselves, but there are treatments available to help slow the course of Alzheimer’s disease and researchers are working hard to find a cure. Alzheimer’s disease is considered a condition of the elderly affecting mostly those over the age of 65. While there are so called early onset cases that occur in younger adults they are rare. 23,000 people die each year in the United States from Alzheimer’s disease. It is the leading cause of dementia, making it the eighth leading cause of death among older Americans. Though there is currently no cure for the condition, understanding the progress of the disease can help researchers, care-giving family members and those afflicted. The disease is hallmarked by atrophy, or shrinking, of the cortical tissues in the brain. In people with Alzheimer’s disease nerve cells become bunched together...

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