Diagnosis and Pathogenesis of Alzheimer

Doctors use several methods and tools to help determine whether a person who is having memory problems has “possible Alzheimer’s dementia” (dementia may be due to another cause) or “probable Alzheimer’s dementia” (no other cause for dementia can be found).

To diagnose Alzheimer’s, doctors may: o Ask the person and a family member or friend questions about overall health, past medical problems, ability to carry out daily activities, and changes in behavior and personality o Conduct tests of memory, problem solving, attention, counting, and language o Carry out standard medical tests, such as blood and urine tests, to identify other possible causes of the problem o Perform brain scans, such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or positron emission tomography (PET), to rule out other possible causes for symptoms. These tests may be repeated to give doctors information about how the person’s memory and other cognitive functions are changing over time. Alzheimer’s disease can be definitively diagnosed only after death, by linking clinical measures with an examination of brain tissue in an autopsy.

An early diagnosis also helps families plan for the future. They can take care of financial and legal matters, address potential safety issues, learn about living arrangements, and develop support networks. In addition, an early diagnosis gives people greater opportunities to participate in clinical trials that are testing possible new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease or other research studies.

Alzheimer's Conference mainly focuses on current research in Alzheimers, its therapeutics and its alternatives.