If you are worried about your memory or having difficulties with planning and organising, talk to your GP.
You could bring a friend or relative to support you. It can be very helpful to have a friend or family member there.
If you're worried about someone else, try to get them to make an appointment. You could suggest going with them.
Getting an accurate diagnosis on time gives you the best chance to adjust, prepare and plan for the future. It will also mean you can get the treatment and support you need.
What your GP can do to help
Memory difficulties are not only caused by Alzheimer's.
They can also be caused by:
- depression or anxiety
- stress
- medicines
- alcohol or drugs
- other health problems - such as hormonal disturbances or nutritional deficiencies
Your GP can do some checks to try to find the cause of your symptoms. They can refer you to a memory assessment service or a specialist for more tests if needed.
Your GP will:
- ask about your concerns and what you or your family have noticed
- check your health and do a physical examination
- ask you some questions to check your memory and thinking
- ask you to do a pen and paper task
Your GP may also ask about any medicines you're taking and organise some blood tests.
These will help:
- rule out other possible causes of your symptoms
- find out how different areas of your brain are functioning
- your GP decide if you need to see a specialist for more checks
Specialist checks and tests
If your GP is unsure if you have Alzheimer's disease, they may refer you to a specialist. This may be at a memory assessment service.
They may refer you to a specialist such as a:
- psychiatrist
- geriatrician - a specialist in the health of older people
- neurologist - a brain and nervous system expert
A specialist will listen to the concerns of you and your family about your memory or thinking.
They will assess your memory and other areas of mental ability.
If necessary, they will arrange more tests to rule out other conditions.
There is no simple test for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. But there are specialist tests that can help confirm you have Alzheimer's disease.
The specialist may recommend tests such as a:
- cognitive assessment (test to assess your mental abilities)
- lumbar puncture
- blood test
- brain scan
Cognitive assessment to diagnose Alzheimer's
A specialist will usually assess your mental abilities. For example, your memory or thinking ability. They do this using tests known as cognitive assessments.
Most cognitive assessments involve a series of tests and questions.
These will assess your:
- short-term and long-term memory
- concentration and attention span
- language and communication skills
- awareness of time and place (orientation)
- abilities related to vision (visuospatial abilities)
Test scores may be affected by your level of education.
For example, someone who cannot read or write very well may have a lower score. But they may not have Alzheimer's disease. Someone with a higher level of education may achieve a higher score but still have Alzheimer's.
Scores may also be mildly affected by age. The brain shrinks with age and processing time becomes slower.
These tests can help doctors work out what's happening. They will also take a lot of other things into account in making a diagnosis.
Blood tests
These may be used to rule out conditions with similar symptoms.
Brain scan
You may need a brain scan. This is to rule out other causes and look for signs of damage.
This could be a CT scan, MRI scan or a PET scan.
A scan may find you have the abnormal amyloid protein which means you may have Alzheimer's.
Lumbar puncture
You may have a lumbar puncture. A lumbar puncture tests the spinal fluid (fluid that surrounds and supports the brain and spine).
This can be very helpful in finding changes in the levels of the proteins (amyloid and tau) that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
After diagnosis
It may take several tests over many months before you get a diagnosis. Sometimes it may be quicker.
It can take time for you and your family to adapt to a diagnosis of Alzheimer's.
You might find it helpful to find information and plan for the future. Others may need more time to process the news.
It might help to talk things through with family and friends. You can also get support from the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE