Confirming the Signs
1 Have the prospective dementia sufferer examined by a doctor. In some cases, a primary care physician can diagnose dementia, but more often, the patient needs to be referred to a specialist, such as a neurologist or gerontologist, who can diagnose dementia through the following means:
A review of the patient's medical history, including how and when symptoms developed. Based on this review, a doctor may order such laboratory tests as a blood count or tests for blood glucose level, spinal fluid or thyroid hormone levels.
A physical examination to identify disorders that can overlap with or contribute to dementia, such as heart disease, stroke, nutritional deficiency or kidney failure.
A review of medications the patient may be taking, as certain combinations of drugs may mimic or add to the symptoms of dementia.
A neurological evaluation, covering balance, reflexes, sensory and other functions to rule out other disorders or identify treatable symptoms.
Tests of memory, math and language skills, including the ability to write, draw, name objects and follow directions.
A brain scan to identify underlying causes of dementia such as strokes or tumors.
A psychiatric evaluation to rule out depression as an underlying cause of a patient's symptoms.
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Topic: How to Recognize Signs of Senile Dementia (Read 1246 times)