There is no specific test to confirm whether a person has Alzheimer’s disease. Doctors will determine whether or not a person has the disease based on the information provided by the patient and the results of various lab tests that can help in the diagnosis. Methods of Detecting Alzheimer’s Disease To help differentiate between other causes of memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease, doctors currently rely on the following types of tests: 1. Physical and neurological exams. Doctors will do a physical exam to assess each of the patient’s neurological health by checking the following: reflexes, muscle strength, ability to get up from a chair or walk around the house, touch and vision, coordination and balance. 2. Laboratory tests. Blood tests can help doctors rule out other potential causes of memory loss and confusion, such as thyroid disease or vitamin deficiencies. 3. Psychological testing. The doctor may do a short psychological test to assess the patient’s memory and other thinking skills. It takes about 10 minutes to complete a small psychological test. 4. Neuropsychological testing. The doctor may want to conduct a more comprehensive assessment of the patient’s thinking and memory, and the doctor will usually use a number of scales to test this. Longer neuropsychological tests, which may take several hours to complete, can provide detailed information about the patient’s mental functioning compared to peers with similar backgrounds. This type of test will be very helpful if the doctor believes he has early stage Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia. 5. Brain imaging tests. Currently used brain imaging focuses on visible abnormalities associated with diseases other than Alzheimer’s disease, such as strokes, trauma, or tumors, which can cause cognitive changes. Novel imaging techniques currently in use at large medical institutions or in the clinical trial stage may help physicians detect specific brain changes due to Alzheimer’s disease. Brain imaging techniques include: A. Computed tomography (CT) scans. During a CT scan, the patient lies on an exam table and slides into a small room. x-rays will be shot into your body at different angles, and a computer uses this information to synthesize to get a cross-sectional image of the brain. The test is painless and takes about 20 minutes. It is currently used to rule out brain tumors, strokes and head injuries. B. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): MRI uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to produce detailed images of the brain. MRI is currently used primarily to rule out other diseases that present with cognitive symptoms. C. Positron emission tomography (PET) scan. For a PET scan, a low-level wireless probe is placed in the patient’s vein. The new PET technology can detect the level of plaque in the patient’s brain. Researchers are currently working with doctors to develop new diagnostic tools to help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. New technologies under development include alternative methods of brain imaging, more sensitive psychological tests, and measurement of important proteins or types of proteins in the blood or cremaster fluid. It is believed that with technological advances and the efforts of a large number of medical professionals, Alzheimer’s disease will be diagnosed more accurately, thus enabling the majority of patients to receive treatment as early as possible.