Diagnosing Alzheimer's dementia

To diagnose Alzheimer's dementia, your primary doctor, a doctor trained in brain conditions (neurologist) or a doctor trained to treat older adults (geriatrician) will review your medical history, medication history and your symptoms. Your doctor will also conduct several tests.

During your appointment, your doctor will evaluate:

• Whether you have impaired memory or thinking (cognitive) skills
• Whether you exhibit changes in personality or behaviors
• The degree of your memory or thinking impairment or changes
• How your thinking problems affect your ability to function in daily life
• The cause of your symptoms

Doctors may order additional laboratory tests, brain-imaging tests or send you for memory testing. These tests can provide doctors with useful information for diagnosis, including ruling out other conditions that cause similar symptoms.