Toronto Dementia NetworkHow Do I Get a Diagnosis?Making the diagnosisThere is currently no single test that can tell if a person has Alzheimer's disease. The diagnosis is made through a systematic assessment that eliminates other possible causes. Until the time when there is a conclusive test, doctors will continue to use the words "probable Alzheimer's disease". Don't let these words fool you; doctors making this diagnosis are accurate 80 to 90 per cent of the time. Making the diagnosis can take time. The diagnosis can be made in a family doctor's office, a memory clinic, a hospital, or in the community. The doctor may or may not feel that the person needs to see a number of health care professionals to help make the diagnosis. These may include a psychologist, psychiatrist, neurologist, geriatrician, nurse, social worker, or occupational therapist. They will look for problems with the person's memory, reasoning ability, language, judgement, and how these affect day-to-day function. The process involves:Medical historyBoth individual and family members or friends will be asked questions regarding the person's symptoms now and in the past. There will be questions about past illnesses and about family, medical, and psychiatric history. Mental status examThis part of the process tests the person's sense of time and place, as well as the ability to remember, express him/herself, and do simple calculations. It may involve exercises such as recalling words and objects, drawing and spelling, and questions such as "What year is it?"; Physical examTo help rule out other causes, a physical exam will be done. The doctor will look for heart, lung, liver, kidney, or thyroid problems that may be causing the symptoms. To evaluate whether other nervous system disorders are causing the symptoms, the doctor will test muscle tone and strength, co-ordination, eye movement, speech, and sensation. Laboratory testsA number of tests will be done. Detailed blood work will be ordered to help detect problems such as anemia, diabetes, thyroid problems, or infection that might be causing the symptoms. Other tests such as X-rays and EEG's (electroencephalogram)
may be used to determine the source of the problem. In some centres, scans
may be used. These may be recommended, but are not always necessary for
diagnosis: Psychiatric and psychological evaluationsA psychiatric evaluation may be helpful in ruling out other illnesses such as depression, which can cause memory loss similar to Alzheimer's disease. Neuropsychological testing can evaluate memory, reasoning, writing, etc. Preparing for the assessmentOn the day of the appointment, it will be useful to have the following information on hand. Writing this information down ahead of time can be helpful.
The family's roleSometimes the person experiencing the problems will go to see his or her doctor. For others, the family will play a role in alerting the doctor of a problem if the person is reluctant to seek help. Tips to lend a hand
If the diagnosis is Alzheimer's diseaseYou may want to ask:
Finding supportPlease call your local Alzheimer Society at any time in the process for additional information, community referral or support. Source: Getting a Diagnosis: Finding Out If It Is Alzheimer's Disease - Alzheimer Society Canada. Toronto Dementia Network. 2007 |