Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease - Neuropsychological Testing
Rudolph C. Hatfield, PhD., edited by Kathryn Patricelli, MAIn addition to the psychological/psychiatric evaluation described previously, neuropsychological testing may be conducted. This can help determine more specifically the type and level of cognitive impairment that people are exhibiting. It can also identify their strengths and preserved abilities (abilities that are still functioning correctly). Information about preserved abilities is important to help form a treatment plan and recommendations about environmental modifications that would be useful. This might include job modifications, looking for a more supportive living environment, etc.
Neuropsychologists administer tests that have been developed through rigorous research to study people's:
- intellectual functioning
- memory capacity (short- and long-term memory)
- attention
- concentration
- reasoning
- visual spatial abilities
- their ability to solve problems and learn new information.
Tests results are compared to the performance of other people of the same age and education level to determine whether a specific person is impaired. In some cases, the results of the tests can be compared to previous test results from the same person to determine if that person has experienced a decline in their cognition.
A variety of tests are available that can narrow the range of possible diagnoses by identifying patterns that indicate Alzheimer's, a head injury, stroke, or other condition. For example, someone with a head injury may exhibit amnesia as their most prominent symptom. Amnesia is an inability to learn and recall new information and/or problems remembering previously learned information or past events. Someone with Alzheimer's might show short-term memory impairment, but not necessarily amnesia.
A neuropsychologist might administer one test or a whole battery (group) of them, depending on the person. There are many combinations of cognitive tests that can be used in the diagnosis of dementia. Some of these tests are combined in standard types of test batteries. In other cases, neuropsychologists may combine different tests from different groups to make a diagnosis. The majority of neuropsychologists do not use ready-made batteries (test groupings) exclusively. Instead, they often combine some of these groupings with other tests such as IQ tests, memory scales, and other formalized approaches.
Obviously, diagnosing Alzheimer's is a complex process because the doctor (or team of health care professionals) has a great deal of information to sort through. The results of a neuropsychological test battery represent only one piece of the puzzle. Even though these test results are often a major component of an overall examination for dementia, the results of these tests are not the only findings used to diagnose dementia. If a diagnosis of Alzheimer's is made, the next step is to then begin treating the disease and symptoms.
As previously explained, there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease. However, there are some treatments and approaches that can sometimes improve symptoms and/or quality of life. The first stage of treatment is typically to address the person's cognitive symptoms with one or more the medications described in the next section. Although these drugs can be helpful, they cannot stop or reverse the disease, and eventually the disease (and symptoms) will progress. The second stage of treatment is to address the person's environment or surroundings to maximize the person's functioning. Methods for shaping the environment to be "Alzheimer's disease friendly" will also be described.
Resources
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Articles
- Introduction & Causes of Cognitive Disorders
- Dementia
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Alzheimer's Disease
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Prevalence and Causes of Alzheimer's Disease
- Causes of Alzheimer's Disease Continued
- Risk Factors for Alzheimer's Disease
- Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease
- Warning Signs of Alzheimer's Disease
- Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease
- Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease - Imaging Procedures and Psychological Evaluation
- Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease - Neuropsychological Testing
- Treatment of Cognitive and Behavioral Symptoms associated with Alzheimer's Disease
- Research and Prognosis on Alzheimer's Disease
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Other Cognitive Disorders
- Vascular Neurocognitive Disorder
- Vascular Neurocognitive Disorder Continued
- Lewy Body Dementia
- Symptoms of Lewy Body Dementia
- Diagnosis and Treatment of Lewy Body Dementia
- Reversible Cognitive Disorder - Dementia Syndrome of Depression
- Neurocognitive Disorder Due to Another Medical Condition
- Reversible Cognitive Disorder - Delirium
- Prevention of Dementia and Other Cognitive Disorders
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Dementia Coping Skills & Behavior Management
- Coping Skills for Those With Dementia
- Coping Skills for Dementia Caregivers
- Services for Dementia Caregivers
- Communication Tips for Dementia Caregivers
- Behavioral Management for Dementia Caregivers
- Behavioral Management for Dementia Caregivers Continued
- Tips for Dealing with Specific Dementia Problematic Behaviors
- Tips for Dealing with Specific Dementia Problematic Behaviors Continued
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Conclusion and Resources
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- Alive with Alzheimer's
- Alzheimer's
- Days With My Father
- Decision Making, Personhood and Dementia
- Dementia
- Dementia Caregivers Share Their Stories
- Hearing the Person With Dementia
- How We Think About Dementia
- Inside Assisted Living
- Mild Cognitive Impairment and Early Alzheimer's Disease
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16 more
- Mom's OK, She Just Forgets
- My Book about Brains, Change and Dementia
- Nothing about us, without us!
- Remembering Home
- Rights, Risk and Restraint-Free Care of Older People
- Speaking Our Minds: Revised Edition
- Still Alice
- Telling Tales About Dementia
- The Almost Moon
- The Emotional Journey of the Alzheimer's Family
- The Enduring Self in People with Alzheimer's
- The Story of My Father
- Voices Of Alzheimer's
- When It Gets Dark
- When Someone You Know Is Living in a Dementia Care Community
- Wrinkles
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Links
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Videos
- Overview of Dementia with Lewy Bodies
- Common Challenges: Driving
- Diagnosis and Management of Vascular Dementia
- Difference Between Alzheimer's and Dementia
- Why Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease Matters
- Looking Beyond Alzheimer’s Disease: An Overview of Other Major Forms of Neurodegenerative Disease
- New Definition of Alzheimer’s Changes How Disease Is Researched
- Lewy Body Dementia: Most Common Disorder You’ve Never Heard Of
- Living With Traumatic Brain Injury
- Early Detection of Alzheimer's Disease
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37 more
- Seeing Alzheimer's in a New Way
- Inside Alzheimer’s disease
- Alzheimer's Screening
- Neurology: Testing for Alzheimer's
- Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Sexually Inappropriate Behaviors
- Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Depression/Apathy
- Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Agitation and Anxiety
- Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Aggressive Language/Behavior
- Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Sleep Disturbances
- Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Repetitive Phone Calls
- Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Home Safety
- Best Practices & Emerging Therapies for Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease
- Recognizing the Early Signs of Dementia
- Effective Treatments and Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease: The Time is Now - Research on Aging
- Dementia – it affects us all
- Falls Prevention in People with Dementia
- Caregiver Training Part I: Introduction
- Caregiver Training Part II: Hallucinations
- Caregiver Training Part III: Refusal to Bathe
- Caregiver Training Part IV: Refusal to Take Medication
- Caregiver Training Part V: Repetitive Behaviors
- Caregiver Training Part VI: Repetitive Questions
- Caregiver Training Part VII: Sundowning
- Caregiver Training Part VIII: Wandering
- The Benefits of Early Detection of Alzheimer's Disease
- A New Way To Look At Alzheimer's
- The Healing Power of Music
- Falls Prevention in People with Dementia
- Falls Prevention in People with Dementia
- Protecting & Caring for Patients with Dementia
- Dementia 101 in 101 Seconds
- Normal and Abnormal Aging and the Brain
- Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease
- Aggressive Behavior in People with Dementia
- Diagnosing Alzheimer’s
- Signs of Alzheimer’s
- Practical Tips for Travelling with a Loved One with Alzheimer's Disease
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