If your doctor suspects you have Alzheimer’s disease — the most common form of dementia — a number of methods may be used to arrive at a diagnosis.
First, your doctor will look at your medical history and administer a physical exam to rule out other illnesses that could be causing cognitive issues. As part of this process, your doctor will ask about your diet and other habits, such as alcohol or drug use, and review your medications.
Cognitive screening tests are an important tool in diagnosing Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. These tests can range from short to intensive, and look at areas like memory, thinking, and problem solving. It’s common for your doctor to ask questions that help screen for a mood disorder, like depression, at the same time.
Imaging tests like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans are mainly used to rule out other conditions, such as a brain tumor. But certain imaging tests, such as a PET (positron emission tomography) scan, can also be used to look for beta-amyloid plaques in the brain, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
