How is Alzheimer’s disease diagnosed?

A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can often be difficult particularly in the early stages but it is important to distinguish Alzheimer’s disease from other forms of dementia and to rule out causes of the symptoms which require specific treatment. There is no single test to determine whether someone definitely has Alzheimer’s disease. However, doctors can determine fairly accurately whether a person may have Alzheimer’s disease by conducting several screening tests, which help eliminate other conditions, and by conducting a careful examination of a person’s physical and mental state. The main tests used to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease look at memory, language, perceptual skills, attention, orientation, problem-solving and functional abilities. A healthcare professional can diagnose the cause of these problems and experts estimate that a skilled doctor can diagnose Alzheimer’s disease with more than 90% accuracy.

In cases where results are inconclusive, the doctors may decide on further tests such as brain scans which will locate any damaged areas of the brain. The results of these tests can provide further evidence to support diagnosis.