Our office can provide a neurology evaluation, an excellent place to start to check on your memory and cognitive status and look for warning signs of cognitive decline. Information obtained from the patient and a knowledgeable informant (usually spouse or family member) will help the physician understand the history and progression of the symptoms and the impact it has on their life.

Hoag Hospital Clinical Research is participating in several research programs for those with mild memory loss or early Alzheimer’s

Dementia is a degenerative condition where memory is impaired to the point that it interferes with one’s ability to function at work or in usual activities. Examples include trouble shopping, driving, paying bills, making and keeping a calendar and appointments, and maintaining a household.

Lab work, cognitive testing and imaging studies (MRI or CT) form the core of the diagnostic tests. EEG, PET scans, and neuropsychometric testing may be necessary to obtain a complete understanding of each person’s condition. Spinal fluid analysis to look for developing amyloid or tau proteins is an option, particularly with recently available infusion therapies.

There are many causes of dementia. Usually it is a degenerative condition with Alzheimer’s disease being the most predominant. Frontotemporal dementia, Lewy Body dementia, vascular dementia, Huntington’s disease and tauopathies make up most of the remaining causes. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, alcoholism and some metabolic, infectious or autoimmune conditions are less common causes.