I am sitting here thinking about memory testing for Alzheimer's and dementia.....By Bob DeMarco
Don't ask me why, but it is just dawning on me that none of my mothers's first three personal care physicians suggested or offered to get her memory tested. This in spite of the fact that I was clearly describing my concerns about her mental health and behavior.
I had one doctor that looked at his watch as I was asking him questions. Sometimes the nonverbal communication is the tip-off. The visual cue.
Here is some advice -- if you see your doctor checking his watch, and if he looks frustrated answering your question, send him a nice wish you were here note with the address of your new personal care physician attached.
The third personal care physician that I tried with my mother did flip me a prescription for Aricept and said, she has Alzheimer's. No memory test, no MRI, no referral to a neurologist. No more visits with that doctor.
I know and understand from our own experience, experience of friends and people we know, that personal care physicians for the most part are clueless when it comes to diagnosing mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's, and dementia.
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You don't have to take my word for this, instead you can read this article -- Doctors not Good at Detecting Alzheimer's and Dementia.
Diagnosing mild-to-moderate dementia cases can be difficult. Indeed, more than half of such cases are not recognized by physicians, according to a recent review of the literature at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. In fact, family members and caregivers, in addition to many physicians, often overlook a decline in cognitive function as well.
Along these lines, a couple of months ago I asked 12 friends and neighbors over 70 years of age if they ever had their memory tested. Zero.
I also asked them if they were aware of the free Alzheimer's screening available on National Alzheimer's awareness day. Zero.
You might like this one. Every year they bring this big van here and you can get your eyes tested for free. They bring this big van right here on to the property and park it next to the clubhouse.
We have this nice clubhouse, it can hold 200 people sitting at tables.
I wonder why we don't offer everyone a memory test, right here, in the clubhouse? Well, like most things this is just coming into the part of my brain that tells me to take action. We will have to look into this.
Over the last year many of you have commented about your own Alzheimer's experience.
So I am wondering.
What came first the chicken or the egg. Did the doctor make the diagnosis of dementia upfront? Did the doctor make the diagnosis after some event? How did the diagnosis come in and what was the catalyst of the diagnosis?
I know everyone is busy. However, if you take the time to share your own experience in the comments section you might be helping someone who comes along in the future and reads this article.
You might describe an experience similar to the one they are experiencing. This might be just what they need to take action. To go get a memory test for someone they love.
We all know how important it is to get the diagnosis of Alzheimer's or dementia early. Helping other is important too -- dig?
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Original content Bob DeMarco, Alzheimer's Reading RoomBob DeMarco is the editor of the Alzheimer's Reading Room and an Alzheimer's caregiver. The Alzheimer's Reading Room is the number one website on the Internet for news, advice, and insight into Alzheimer's disease. Bob has written more than 950 articles with more than 8,000 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.
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