Diagnostic TechniquesCurrently, it is extremely difficult to diagnose a patient with Alzheimer's Disease. Alzheimer's Disease is difficult to properly be identified and separated from symptoms of other cognitive diseases and disorders which affect the brain in a similar way. Doctors generally rely on a very in-depth testing sequence which they use to make any symptoms of Alzheimer's clearly evident. At this point in time, there is no clear cut way to see if a person has Alzheimer's Disease until after they die and their brain can be analyzed completely (Knapton).
Tests
Doctors use a series of tests that stimulate different areas of the brain that can be affected by Alzheimer's Disease. They first look for symptoms such as poor orientation, mood changes, social isolation, increased forgetfulness, and a reduced vocabulary. They then use tasks such as mini clock drawing and other visuospatial tasks and evaluate the patient. They also do neuropsychological tests such as testing the patient's attention span, ability to follow a series of directions, processing speed of directions, functioning of the body, immediate recollection and delayed recollection, and long term memory. (DeFina)
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Doctor testing a patient for Alzheimer's and recording results
Scanning Procedures
Doctors also use multiple different brain scanning techniques to see the actual condition of the brain. They use Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Commuted Tomography (CT) to see if the brain has any physical breakdown as a result of the disease. Single Photon Emission Commuted Tomography (SPECT) is used to show what areas of the brain are more active than others and what areas are less active or not active at all (DeFina). The final scan that doctors use is perhaps the most effective technique that is available at this point in time. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is used to show the distribution of tau proteins and amyloid plaques in the brain before antemortem. These two molecules in the brain are the two that are most notably associated with Alzheimer's Disease. (Knapton)
Scan of three different brains with various levels of tau protein and amyloid plaque
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