Neurologist or Psychiatrist

RMP9

What is the recommended health professional for a 75-year-old Alzheimers patient who has no underlying health issues.  Is it appropriate to consult with just a neurologist, just a psychiatrist or both?  What do each of them offer in terms of appropriate care for the patient who is a resident of a memory care  unit at a CCRC.

DJnAZ

When it first became clear my wife was following her mother and grandmother into dementia and AD, I got her an appointment with a neurologist. I should have read the doctor's bio a bit closer as her specialty was sleep disorders and epilepsy.

Next I tried a psychiatrist who, her bio said, was trained in diseases of the brain and central nervous system. I'm sure she had courses in the various forms of dementia, but her specialty was substance abuse, TBI, stroke and personality disorders.

Finally I found a doctor with a MD in neurology and a PhD in psychiatry. This doctor is a highly regarded dementia specialist, has conducted over 100 clinical trials as the lead doctor and is the author of numerous papers on dementia. She and her staff were outstanding and even though my wife is now in a memory care facility, the staff has maintained contact with me should I have questions or need help.

As professional and experienced as this doctor is, other than trying various medications to level my wife's mood swings, once a person is diagnosed with dementia there is little if anything that can be done other than medications. And interestingly enough, the first neurologist, the psychiatrist and the dementia specialist basically all agreed. My wife has dementia that is now progressing rapidly and she needed to be in a memory care facility where she would be safe and secure. As personally devastating as it is for me, that is exactly where she is now.

The three doctors with different specialties arrived at the same diagnosis. Read between the lines in their bios. And ask questions. Based on my experience, however, if I had to pick one it would be the doctor who specializes in dementia and that is usually a neurologist.

CaregiverHelen

DJ, a very thoughtful reply. I wish you the best as well.

Cinsababe

We have both, both specialize in dementia and both are great resources for me. The neuro did the testing to get to the correct dementia diagnosis, the psych now oversees his meds to help with behavior issues, sleep problems, etc.

RMP9

Thanks for your thoughts.  My wife is also in memory care  unit since the end of March.  We moved from Houston to Miami (closer to family) and into a Continuous Care Retirement Community.  She was diagnosed by a neurologist in Houston who has continued to prescribe meds based on my observations from Miami.  Now we just saw a neurologist here for the purpose of having someone in the area to monitor her progression.  I agree probably there isn't much a psychiatrist could do, other than evaluate efficacy of the meds.  Right now sleep (or lack of it) is an issue.