Dementia

• Interview
  You and your caregiver will be interviewed by a neurologist and a specialist nurse to understand the problems faced.
• Assessments
  A cognitive and language ability test will be conducted to help the neurologist make a diagnosis.

Other tests include:

• Blood
  Samples will be tested for vitamin de ciencies, thyroid disorders, and markers of infection/inflammation. Fasting is not required.
• Brain Imaging
  A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Computed Tomography (CT) scan looks for a treatable cause of dementia or the presence of atrophy (shrinkage) in the brain (Figure 1). A Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan can also confirm the presence of amyloid and tau pathology.
  
  
  Figure 1: Left - Normal Right - Dementia
  Shrinkage of the brain in Dementia patients


• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing
  CSF is drawn from the spine to test for markers of dementia. An appointment is needed for this outpatient procedure. You should come with your caregiver who can provide you support as the procedure will last a few hours.