Senior Sunrise

Types of Dementia

When dementia is suspected the first step is to get a more accurate diagnosis of the type of dementia, so that appropriate treatments can be offered to the patient.

• Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia

• Other disorders that can lead to dementia include: Pick’s, Vascular, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), Lewy Body, Frontotemporal dementia and Parkinson’s related dementia

• Infectious diseases such as HIV and AIDS, meningitis, advanced neurosyphilis can also lead to dementia.

• Dementia is also sometimes associated with drug abuse or toxins such as mercury, carbon monoxide and lead.

 A skilled physician will be able to diagnose the cause of Alzheimer’s-like symptoms with over 90% accuracy.

Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease

A diagnostic workup will include the following:

• A medical history. Medications history. This includes current medications and dosage, medications taken for passed medical conditions, any incidence of drug allergies or drug misuse.

• Neurological examination. An examination of the motor system (movement),  an evaluation of reflexes, coordination, and sensory functioning;  to detect problems with the nervous system that may be causing problems with thinking and behavior.

• Premorbid history. How someone functioned before the occurrence of disease.

• Complete physical examination to assess hearing, vision, blood pressure, pulse, and other basic indicators of health and disease.

• Preliminary evaluation of current mood.

Tests for Alzheimer’s Disease

There are numerous and different tests.

• Mental status examination. The (MSE) Mental Status Examination test in onne of the key diagnostic tests for dementias such as Alzheimer’s The doctor/clinician makes judgments on the way the patient is functioning in a number of key areas. Each aspect will contribute to a diagnosis. The MSE will  assess memory, concentration, and other cognitive skills. Based on a series of questions and tests, points are achieved when they are answered correctly.

• The Clock Test. This is a simple test can be used as a part of a neurological test or as a screening tool for Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.

• Laboratory tests usually include urine and blood tests to establish whether such things as diabetes, infections, heart disease are present.

• Imaging procedures such as a computed tomography (CT) scan, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or a positron emission tomography (PET) scan can identify changes in brain structure or size indicative of Alzheimer’s. These tests give a detailed picture of the brain and can see if someone has blood clots, tumors, has had a stroke or other abnormalities that might account for Alzheimer’s type symptoms.

Who Can Diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease?

• The first person from who we seek help is a primary care physician (your family doctor), and they will be able to refer someone for further tests and consultations for an accurate diagnosis.

• There are many different health professionals who can diagnose or can contribute to a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.  The choice of specialist depends on a number of factors that the individual is demonstrating. The recommendation from the primary care physician may be to recommend one or more of the following:

• A Gerontologist who specialize in the study and diseases of aging.

• A psychiatrist who specializes in mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.

• A Neurologist- who specializes in diseases of the nervous system such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or strokes.

• A Neuropsychologist who specializes in brain-behavior relationships. They undertake neuropsychological testing to determine the type and level of impairment.