If a primary care doctor suspects Alzheimer’s, he or she may refer the patient to a specialist who can provide a detailed diagnosis or further assessment. Specialists include:
Geriatricians, who manage health care in older adults and know how the body changes as it ages and whether symptoms indicate a serious problem.
Geriatric psychiatrists, who specialize in the mental and emotional problems of older adults and can assess memory and thinking problems.
Neurologists, who specialize in abnormalities of the brain and central nervous system and can conduct and review brain scans.
Neuropsychologists, who can conduct tests of memory and thinking.
Memory clinics and centers, including Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers, offer teams of specialists who work together to diagnose the problem. In addition, these specialty clinics or centers often have access to the equipment needed for brain scans and other advanced diagnostic tests.
What are the benefits of an early Alzheimer’s diagnosis?
Alzheimer’s disease slowly worsens over time. People living with this disease progress at different rates, from mild Alzheimer’s, when they first notice symptoms, to severe, when they are completely dependent on others for care.
Early, accurate diagnosis is beneficial for several reasons. While there is no cure, there are several medicines available to treat Alzheimer’s, along with coping strategies to manage behavioral symptoms. Beginning treatment early in the disease process may help preserve daily functioning for some time. Most medicines work best for people in the early or middle stages of the disease. Learn more about Alzheimer’s medications.
In addition, having an early diagnosis helps people with Alzheimer’s and their families:
Plan for the future
Take care of financial and legal matters
Address potential safety issues
Learn about living arrangements
Develop support networks
An early diagnosis also provides people with more opportunities to participate in clinical trials or other research studies testing possible new treatments for Alzheimer’s.
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Email Address
For more information about Alzheimer’s
NIA Alzheimer’s and related Dementias Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center
800-438-4380
[email protected]
www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers
bout Alzheimer’s & Dementia, please call us at 1-800-438-4380, Mon-Fri, 8:30 am-5:00 pm Eastern Time or send an email to [email protected]
