Alzheimer Disease (Dementia)

Dementia has a gradual onset. The memory losses are a result of the death of brain cells and connectors between these brain cells. Symptoms include difficulty with memory, confusion, interference with routine work and social activities, language usage, impaired judgment, misplacing objects, mood swings and disorientation with regard to place and time. Every dementia or Alzheimer's patient exhibits universal symptoms, yet each patient has an individual pattern. Eventually, this disease process leaves patients with a total loss of ability to care for themselves. The course of dementia can run from 2-25 years, with the average being four to eight years.

It is important to get a proper medical diagnosis, as there are many other identified forms of dementia, including: tumors, head injuries, alcoholism, vascular disease, Parkinson's, Huntington's, Pick's, Down's syndrome, AIDS, Creutzfeldt-Jacob, encephalitis, infections, syphilis, hydrocephalus, drug/medication use/abuse, depression, B-12 deficiency, hypo or hyperglycemia, anemia, thyroid disorder, blood clots in brain, and liver/kidney failure. Some of these types of dementia are irreversible and can cause multiple changes in personality while others may be reversed and/or treated with medical management. When a diagnosis of irreversible dementia has been made, then the family caregivers will have the peace of mind of knowing that everything possible has been done for the patient. The evaluation will also establish a disease base line from which to make important present and future health and legal care decisions.

The medical evaluation can include a detailed medical history, mental status test, neuro-psychological tests, brain scan (MRI or CT), physical exam, laboratory tests, neurological exam and psychiatric exam. The results will be evaluated and the family will be given the best possible summary. If the diagnosis is probable Alzheimer's, then this diagnosis will have an accuracy rate of about 90%. A definite Alzheimer's diagnosis can only be confirmed to 100% when a brain autopsy has been performed after the patient's death.