Evaluation & Treatment for Dementia

Dementia is a common term used to describe a set of disorders that causes problems with cognitive skills (such as memory and judgment) and in many cases motor skills. Serious forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer's, more commonly occur after age 65; but dementia can occur at any time.

Medical Examination

• Evaluation of dementia begins with a full medical exam. This helps rule out any other possible diseases that may be causing similar symptoms to dementia. It also helps look for past medical history, or family history that would put you at a higher risk for dementia.

Cognitive and Neurological Testing

• Cognitive and neurological testing are another common form of evaluating dementia. These examinations test functions such as memory, judgment, language, balance, motor skills and sensory function.

Brain Scans

• Evaluation of dementia may also be performed by specialized medical equipment that can scan the brain for signs of irregularities. These tests include electroencephalogram (EEG), CT scans and MRI scans.

Memantine

• If dementia is diagnosed, one possible form of treatment is with the medication memantine, also known as Namenda. Memantine works to control and regulate a specific chemical messenger in the brain called glutamate, which is often associated with problems with dementia.

Cholinesterase Inhibitors

• Cholinesterase inhibitors, such as Aricept and Exelon, are also a common from of dementia treatment. These inhibitors work by increasing the amount of neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which responsible for cognitive functions such as learning and memory. They increase acetylcholine by preventing the breakdown of the neurotransmitter in the body.