Dementia OK

Diagnosing dementia

You may be reading this site because you are wondering if you have dementia or on behalf of  a relative or friend. It is important to get screened because it may be that you do not have dementia but have depression, an infection or other health conditions like B12 defiency, which may be resolved.

Depression and cognitive impairment are both common conditions in old age, and frequently occur together. The inter-relationship is complex and not well understood but recognised that it can be a psychological reaction to cognitive decline, and thus may also appear as an early symptom in dementing individuals. 

I believe early diagnosis  can protect you and your family members` mental health by giving you some control through knowledge and advice. Maintaining a positive attitude and getting the right support, at the right time will give you, the person with dementia, some agency.

With early diagnosis it may be possible for you and your family to develop coping strategies that improve your quality of life and protect your self esteem and personal confidence in a social setting. In the arterial form of dementia, lifestyle changes and some medical intervention may even improve your condition and prognosis. This is also true for those of you who are suitable to trial medication which may improve connection between the brain nerve cells.

A product called Souvenaid, available on the internet or sometimes through the chemist, is a nutritional supplement which some swear by as being an effective memory enhancer.

There is no cure as such but the right approach is certain to make a significant difference.

The Diagnostic Process

1.  Personal history

The doctor usually spends some time discussing your medical history and gathering information about your changes in memory and thinking.

 2.  Physical examination and laboratory tests

The symptoms of dementia can be due to a number of other possible causes, such as vitamin deficiency, infection, metabolic disorders and side effects from drugs. These other causes are often  treatable. Therefore, an early step in diagnosing dementia is to rule out these causes through a physical examination, blood tests and urine tests.

Routine laboratory tests used in the diagnosis of dementia include:

  • Blood tests to investigate:
    • Anaemia
    • Infection
    • Electrolyte balance (salt and water)
    • Liver function
    • Vitamin B12 deficiency
    • Thyroid function
    • Drug interactions and dosing problems
  •  Urine tests to investigate infection.

 3.   Cognitive testing

Cognitive tests are used to measure and evaluate cognition or ‘thinking’ functions such as memory, orientation, language, fluency and visual-spatial awareness.

Most doctors use short cognitive screening tests when assessing these functions.

A more detailed ACEIII (Addenbrokes Cognitive Examination) cognitive assessment can be conducted , together with a functional assessment and this will assist diagnosis and give a clearer picture as to strengths and weaknesses in terms of support needs.

Cognitive tests are useful in the diagnosis of dementia; they can also be used to assess mood and may help diagnose depression, which can cause symptoms similar to those of dementia.

The first step to getting diagnosed is to visit your GP.