失智

如果您担心自己或您关心的人的记忆，思维，行为或情绪的变化，请与您的初级保健医生联系。他们将进行身体检查并讨论您的症状，并评估您的心理状况。您的医生可能会订购测试，以确定您的症状是否存在身体原因，或将您推荐给专家。

There is no blood test for dementia. This condition is diagnosed with:

  • tests that determine your cognitive ability
  • 神经学评估
  • 脑扫描
  • lab tests to rule out a physical basis of your symptoms
  • 心理健康评估可以确定您的症状不是由抑郁等疾病引起的

因为它是如此难以诊断痴呆,you may want to get a second opinion. Don’t worry about offending your doctor or specialist. Most medical professionals understand the benefit of a second opinion. Your doctor should be happy to refer you to another doctor for a second opinion.

如果没有，您可以联系 阿尔茨海默氏病教育和转诊中心 通过致电800-438-4380来帮助。

以下专家可能参与诊断痴呆症：

  • Geriatricians manage health care for older adults. They know how the body changes as it ages and whether symptoms indicate a serious problem.
  • 老年精神科医生专门研究老年人的心理和情感问题，可以评估记忆和思维。
  • 神经科专门研究大脑和中枢神经系统的异常。他们可以对神经系统进行测试以及审查和解释脑部扫描。
  • Neuropsychologists conduct tests related to memory and thinking.

Memory clinics and centers

Memory clinics and centers, such as the 阿尔茨海默氏病研究中心 ，有一组专家团队，他们共同诊断问题。例如，老年医生可以研究您的一般健康，神经心理学家可以测试您的思维和记忆，而神经科医生可以使用扫描技术在大脑内“看到”。测试通常是在单个集中位置进行的，这可以加快诊断的速度。

参加临床试验可能是值得考虑的选择。在可靠的地方开始研究 阿尔茨海默氏病临床试验数据库 。Thisis a joint project of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is maintained by the NIA’s Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center.

为了从您的医生那里获得最大的收益，做好准备很有帮助。您的医生会问您有关症状的一系列问题。提前写下信息将帮助您准确回答。

Questions your doctor may ask

  • 你的症状是什么？
  • 他们什么时候开始的？
  • 您是否一直都有它们，还是他们来来去去？
  • 是什么使他们变得更好？
  • What makes them worse?
  • How severe are they?
  • 他们会变得更糟还是保持不变？
  • Have you had to stop doing things you used to do?
  • Does anyone in your family have a genetic form of dementia, Huntington’s, or Parkinson’s?
  • What other conditions do you have?
  • 你吃什么药？
  • Have you been under any unusual stress lately? Have you had any major life changes?

Questions to ask your doctor

In addition to being prepared to answer your doctor’s questions, it is helpful to write down questions you want to ask. The following are some suggestions. Add any others to the list:

  • What is causing my symptoms?
  • Is it treatable?
  • 它是可逆的吗？
  • What tests do you recommend?
  • 药物会有所帮助吗？它有副作用吗？
  • Will this go away or is it chronic?
  • 会变得更糟吗？

被诊断出患有痴呆症可能会非常令人恐惧。与家人，朋友或神职人员谈论您的感受可能会有所帮助。

You might want to consider professional counseling or a support group. Try to learn as much as you can about your condition. Make sure arrangements are made for your ongoing care, and take care of yourself. Stay physically active and involved with others. Let someone you trust help with decision-making and responsibilities.

如果家庭成员被诊断出患有痴呆症，这也令人恐惧。您也应该谈论您的感受。咨询可能会有所帮助，支持小组也是如此。尽可能多地了解情况。同样重要的是要照顾好自己。保持活跃并参与您的生活。照顾患有痴呆症的人可能很困难和沮丧，因此请确保您会得到一些帮助。