How to Diagnose Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's is a degenerative neurological condition that is especially common among the elderly. Symptoms of Alzheimer's include memory loss, confusion, mood swings, depression and reduced sense perception. By learning these symptoms, you may be able to diagnose Alzheimer's with the help of a physician.

Instructions

1. Learn the patient's medical history. Ask family members if they've observed any specific symptoms, including loss of both short-term and long-term memory, which often differentiates Alzheimer's from more common cases of dementia. The physician will also need specific information on the onset and duration of other symptoms, such as mood swings, confusion and lapses in normal bodily functions and sensations.

2. Exclude other possible medical conditions. A physician should conduct a thorough physical examination to examine the overall health of the patient. Brain damage from prolonged exposure to chemicals, tumors and even alcohol or drug abuse can create symptoms similar to Alzheimer's.

3. Submit to a CAT scan (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Either can reveal evidence of Alzheimers or uncover other issues that may be causing the symptoms.

4. Use neuropsychological testing to assess the extent of Alzheimer's. A variety of neuropsychological tests can be used, with most of them consisting of a series of questions designed to confirm abnormalities in reasoning, memory, cognition and visual perception.

5. Ask about the latest technologies. These include the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid to measure the levels of certain proteins, and neuroimaging that uses tomography, or 3-D graphs, to represent and compare normal body functions.

Tips & Warnings

• Dementia, which is marked by a loss of cognitive function in an individual, is often a common symptom of aging and is not necessarily an indication of Alzheimer's. You must obtain a proper diagnosis from a physician to determine if you suffer from Alzheimer's.