Diagnosis for dementia?

barnzx

My mother was recently discharged from the hospital after having an episode of some sort and falling. She stayed in the hospital for 2 weeks and she was experiencing dementia symptoms pretty bad. Her memory has been fading gradually over the past 6 years or so. The doctors were worried about it and tried to get an MRI but she wouldnt be still.
Anyway, they sent her to a rehab facility where she is currently. She is very confused and doesn’t know where she is or whats going on. How can i get her tested for dementia? Can they send someone to the rehabilitation place?
I have an Advanced Directive and Durable POA in my name.

MoniqueV2024

I’m really sorry you are going through this. The baseline test for dementia is a conversational/visual test involving questions that most doctors can conduct. This is how my mom received the diagnosis. Though it doesn’t tell you what type of dementia, or stage. Did they do a CT Scan in the hospital to look at her brain? While the MRI definitely provides more detail, it is hard to get them to settle down so requires sedation, though the sedatives can actually make the symptoms worse.

harshedbuzz

@barnzx

A dementia diagnosis is one of elimination for the most part. Generally, a PCP or neurologist will order blood tests and imagining to rule out other conditions that can mimic dementia symptoms and could potentially be treatable or even reversible if caught early. IME, the imaging is more to rule out lesions unless it's a specialized PET scan for amyloid. PCPs can do a quick screening test like MMSE, MoCA or SLUMS to look at memory and executive function which can be helpful.

Where I live, a medically well-served area, seeing a neurologist who specializes in dementias/memory loss, can take the better part of a year.

Many elderly people, even those without dementia, can experience hospital delirium during a hospitalization or rehab stay. For this reason, clinicians will want to evaluate on an outpatient basis when a person has returned to their current baseline.

HB

Ms Meg

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/72593/diagnosis-for-dementia

My father was diagnosed by his general physician during a yearly exam. His memory was bad for a while, but then he started really struggling to remember things, and it upset him. He would constantly ask what was wrong with him, or if he was going crazy. Once he was given a reason for his forgetfulness, he seemed a little less frustrated.