Diagnosing Alzheimer's dementia

To diagnose Alzheimer's dementia, you may see your regular healthcare professional. Or you may see a doctor trained in brain conditions, called a neurologist. A doctor trained to care for older adults, called a geriatrician, also may diagnose you. The healthcare professional reviews your symptoms, medical history and medicine history. Your health professional may interview someone who knows you well, such as a close friend or family member. You also have a physical exam and several tests.

During your appointment, your healthcare professional checks:

• If you show a loss of memory or thinking skills. These are called cognitive skills.
• If you show changes in personality or behaviors.
• The degree to which your memory, thinking, behavior or personality have changed.
• How loss of thinking skills affects your ability to function in daily life.
• The cause of your symptoms.

You may need lab tests, brain-imaging tests or detailed memory testing. These tests can give useful information for a diagnosis. They also can rule out other conditions that cause similar symptoms.