Diagnostic Tests
Doctors use methods and tools to determine if memory problems are “probable Alzheimer’s Disease,” or some other problem causng dementia
Diagnosis tools include:
If cognitive impairment or possible Alzheimer’s is suspected by the doctor, they may refer the individual to a specialist who can provide a more detailed diagnosis or the specialist may be the individual’s choice.
National Institute on Aging. (n.d.). About Alzheimer's Disease: Diagnosis. Retrieved from https://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/topics/diagnosis
Diagnosis tools include:
- Questioning: asking the individual of the friends and family of the individuals about their health , medical history, their current abilities to carry out daily activities, and changes in personality or behavior
- Tests: Memory, problem solving, attention, counting, and language tests
- Medical Tests: Carry out the standard medical tests such as blood and urine tests to identify other possible causes
- Brain Scans: Brain scans can be conducted, such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or positron emission tomography to rule out other causes of the symptoms.
If cognitive impairment or possible Alzheimer’s is suspected by the doctor, they may refer the individual to a specialist who can provide a more detailed diagnosis or the specialist may be the individual’s choice.
- Geriatricians: Manage health care of older adults: they know how the body changes with age and can determine if symptoms are a serious problem
- Geriatric Psychiatrists: Specialists of mental and emotional problems of older adults and can assess the memory or thinking problems.
- Neurologists: Specialize in the brain and central nervous system abnormalities. These specialists can conduct and review the brain scans.
- Neuropsychologists: These specialists can conduct memory and thinking tests.
- Memory Clinics can provide specialists who work together to diagnose the problem. Tests are usually done at the clinic or center and my speed up the diagnosis.
National Institute on Aging. (n.d.). About Alzheimer's Disease: Diagnosis. Retrieved from https://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/topics/diagnosis
Treatment
There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease, but treatments that may help. The treatment can either be a drug or a non-drug. These treatments can help with both cognitive and behavioral problems. There is also medications for memory loss, treatments for behavior and sleep changes and more. The U.S. Food and Drug Ministration has approved two types of medications:
Latest Medication for Memory Loss. Retrieved from http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_standard_prescriptions.asp
- Cholinesterase Inhibitors: a medication to treat Alzheimer's symptoms in early to moderate stages. This medication treats symptoms that are related to memory, thinking, language and other thought processes. The effectiveness of this drug varies from person to person. here are three most commonly prescribed chrolinesterase inhibitors: It's generally tolerated, so side effects may not occur but can.
- Donepezil: which is approved to treat all the stages of Alzheimer's.
- Rivastigmine and Galantamine are approved to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer's.
- Mematin: is a medication that treats moderate to severe stages of Alzheimer's. This drug of memantine is prescribed to improve the ability to perform simple task, memory, attention, reason, and language. This may improve mental function and the ability to perform daily tasks for some people. Memantine can cause some side effects.
Latest Medication for Memory Loss. Retrieved from http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_standard_prescriptions.asp
Latest Treatment Options. Retrieved from http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_treatments.asp