alzheimer

Making The Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s

Unfortunately there is no single definitive test for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease. The doctors making the diagnosis’s are compelled to use the history of symptoms presented by the patient, or the patient’s family along with results of neurological examinations and any results obtained from diagnostic testing to rule out other conditions. When the diagnosis is finally made, the determination will be most likely that Alzheimer’s disease is the "probably" cause of the symptoms because other dementia conditions can and do cause similar signs and symptoms as one would present with regarding a diagnosis for Alzheimer’s. There are some obvious and sometimes subtle differences though in Alzheimer’s and other dementia conditions. Other dementia often times will not progress and may even improve with treatment. Alzheimer’s does not improve and it always progresses in a decline in both cognitive and behavioral condition.

The tests to rule out other conditions and point to Alzheimer’s include taking a mental status test, and also neuropsychological assessments. These tests can help to determine how the cognitive and memory functions are being affected and to what intensity the patient’s cognitive abilities have been affected. Attention span, learning ability, recall, language and visuospatial abilities will be tested. Test results will be compared to patients of similar age and educational background.

A series of interviews of the patient and those who are familiar with the patient will also be conducted with the purpose of determining how well the patient is able to function with daily tasks and to ascertain the emotional state of the individual. Personality and behavioral changes will also be noted.

A medical history will be taken to determine if there has been any history of alcohol or drug abuse, early childhood head trauma or other events that may contribute to memory loss.

Next, psychiatric assessments will be conducted to determine if depression or other mental illnesses are present.

Blood and urine tests may be ordered to rule out infections or other physical conditions that may contribute to the symptoms such as anemia, thyroid involvement, kidney or liver disease, vitamin deficiency or other factors that may have an impact on memory problems.

Scans such as a computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positive emission tomography (PET) may be ordered to help detect the presence of strokes, tumors or other brain conditions which may mimic the same symptoms as Alzheimer’s. These brain scans can also show changes in the brain structures that are associated with memory loss.

In the course of ruling out other conditions tests such as an electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyogram (EMG) or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) done by a spinal tap might also be done.

Ruling out other mental conditions or physical illnesses are an important part of coming up with the diagnosis of probable Alzheimer’s disease especially in the early stage of the disease. When the patient presents for a diagnosis and is already in the moderate stage of the disease the diagnosis is easier to make because of the progressive nature of the disease. 

Tags: diagnosis of alzheimers, electromyogram, health, alzheimers, cerebrospinal fluid

Alzheimer’s Symptoms Revealed

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the diseases in which most of the care revolves around the symptoms. The symptoms are significant in making the diagnosis, in understanding the progression from one stage of the disease to the next and in how the treatment plan is designed.

Alzheimer’s progresses from the first stage of the disease (mild) to the second stage (moderate) to the final stage (severe) in a usually slow progression. The symptoms worsen with each stage and so does the required amount of care. By the time the patient is in the moderate stage he or she is requiring a constant caregiver. The reason for the caregiver is because the person with Alzheimer’s cognitive abilities are rapidly declining by the time she or he is in the moderate stage of the disease. Cognitive functioning is necessary for all types of daily tasks from being able to plan, prepare and serve a meal to being able to bath and dress to get ready for the day. Tasks that require complex cognitive skills such as balancing a checkbook, going shopping ding housework and performing tasks required for maintaining employment are often those that are out of the reach of those in moderate stage Alzheimer’s.

The cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer’s include attention span, ability to make decisions, the ability to learn new things, memory retention, planning, perception, problem solving, being able to reason and the ability to think in terms of more than one step at a time. Daily tasks such as being able to get dressed, brush teeth, bath or take a shower, get dressed, plan the day’s activities, pay bills, prepare meals, or do household or employment tasks are all symptoms related to cognitive ability of the patient. When these cognitive symptoms get progressively worse as they do with Alzheimer’s the patient’s ability to safely function in daily tasks declines to the point where it is essential to have a caregiver for safety and health reasons.

Behavioral symptoms are perhaps the most confusing for family members and others close to the individual because they involve the attitude of the person, gestures that the individual makes that may be completely out of character, and reactions to situations may be completely inappropriate especially while out in public. Moods will completely change and baffle friends and family members.

The symptoms will define the disease from the diagnosis to the identifying of stages as the patient progresses through them. The treatment plan will be based on the symptoms and their severity. Caring for the Alzheimer’s disease patient will be largely based upon the symptoms and how they affect the health and safety of the individual. Understanding what symptoms is part of the disease and why the individual is acting the way they do allow others to have compassion for the patients and assures that the quality of care will be appropriate. It is important that all caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s be educated regarding the symptoms and the progression of the symptoms. 

Tags: alzheimers symptoms, alzheimers