MRI results(2)

Anonymousjpl123

Hi everyone,

We are in the early stages of getting my mom care. She had mild memory issues maybe 3 or 4 years ago but the past year after losing her husband if 60 plus years took a huge slide. Now, we finally got MRI results but only preliminary reading (the neurologist she saw who ordered the MRI is away). Basically it shows evidence of loss of brain volume/atrophy that is “more than expected for just age.” I won’t give details on the MRI because I can’t make heads or tails. While I wait for our appointment with the neurologist, does brain atrophy always mean Alzheimer’s/dementia? 

Thank you all so much. I’m just relieved to finally be on a real (with comprehensive medical care) path.

Anon

M1

Hi.  No imaging results are definitive for dementia--people can have normal scans and still have dementia.  The main thing imaging does is rule out other causes such as tumors and strokes.   Sometimes Lewy body dementia can be diagnosed from a scan from characteristic appearance.   That said, the atrophy is suggestive or supportive of a dementia diagnosis.  There is no definitive diagnosis for Alzheimer's short of brain biopsy or autopsy.  That's a roundabout answer to your question.  Supportive, probably, but not definitive.

Anonymousjpl123

Thank you. That does help a lot. I think I’m looking for anything to be concrete. But we know what we know. I guess this is part of acceptance. I keep wanting something definitive, a clear path. I guess we are on it.