There is no specific test that can confirm whether a person has Alzheimer’s disease. Doctors will determine if a person has the disease based on information provided by the patient and various laboratory results that can help with the diagnosis.
Methods for detecting Alzheimer’s disease To help distinguish other causes of memory loss from Alzheimer’s disease, doctors currently rely on the following types of tests: 1. Physical and neurological examination The doctor 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, and Coordination and balance.
2. Laboratory tests Blood tests can help your doctor rule out other potential causes of memory loss and mental confusion, such as thyroid disease or vitamin deficiencies.
3. Psychological testing The doctor may do a brief 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 test The doctor may want to make a more comprehensive assessment of the patient’s thinking and memory, and the doctor will usually use a number of scales for this test. Longer neuropsychological tests, which may take several hours to complete, can provide detailed information about the patient’s mental functioning compared to peers of similar background. This type of test would be very helpful if the doctor believes he has early stage Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia.
5. Brain imaging The brain imaging currently used focuses on visible abnormalities associated with diseases other than Alzheimer’s disease, such as stroke, trauma, or tumors, which can cause cognitive changes. New imaging techniques currently in use at large medical institutions or in clinical trials can 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 are shot into your body at different angles, and the computer uses this information to synthesize a cross-sectional image of the brain. This 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 disorders that present with cognitive symptoms.
C. Positron emission tomography (PET). When a PET scan is done, a low-level wireless probe is placed in the patient’s vein. The new PET technology can detect plaque levels in the patient’s brain.
Researchers are currently working with physicians to develop new diagnostic tools to help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. New technologies being developed include alternative methods of brain imaging, more sensitive psychological tests, and measurement of important proteins or protein types in the blood or spinal fluid. It is believed that with technological advances and the efforts of a large number of medical practitioners, Alzheimer’s disease will be diagnosed more accurately, thus allowing the majority of patients to receive treatment as early as possible.