Diagnosing Dementia Is a Multistep Course of

In case your physician suspects you will have Alzheimer’s illness — the most typical type of dementia — numerous strategies could also be used to reach at a prognosis.

First, your physician will have a look at your medical historical past and administer a bodily examination to rule out different sicknesses that could possibly be inflicting cognitive points. As a part of this course of, your physician will ask about your food plan and different habits, akin to alcohol or drug use, and assessment your drugs.

Cognitive screening assessments are an essential software in diagnosing Alzheimer’s and different types of dementia. These assessments can vary from brief to intensive, and have a look at areas like reminiscence, pondering, and drawback fixing. It’s widespread in your physician to ask questions that assist display for a temper dysfunction, like despair, on the similar time.

Imaging assessments like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans are primarily used to rule out different circumstances, akin to a mind tumor. However sure imaging assessments, akin to a PET (positron emission tomography) scan, will also be used to search for beta-amyloid plaques within the mind, a trademark of Alzheimer’s illness.