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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffMost likely, you'll first see your primary care provider if you have concerns about dementia. In some cases, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in specific symptoms, such as a neurologist for brain and nerve disorders.
Because appointments can be brief, and because there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to be well prepared. If you're a caregiver for someone with more advanced dementia, you'll likely be the one gathering information from the doctor. Here's some information to help you get ready.
What you can do
- Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there's anything you need to do in advance.
- Write down any symptoms, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
- Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
- Make a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements, being taken.
- Take a family member, friend or caregiver along, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to soak up all the information provided during an appointment.
Preparing a list of questions will help make the most of your time with the doctor. List questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For dementia, some basic questions to ask the doctor include:
- What is likely causing symptoms?
- Are there other possible causes for symptoms?
- What kinds of tests are necessary?
- Is the condition likely temporary or chronic?
- What's the best course of action?
- What are the alternatives to the primary approach being suggested?
- How can dementia and additional health issues best be managed together?
- Are there any restrictions?
- Is there a generic alternative to the medicine being prescribed?
- Are there any brochures or other printed materials or websites to visit?
Don't hesitate to ask any other questions that come up.
What to expect from your doctor
The doctor is likely to ask you and your caregiver a number of questions such as:
- What are the symptoms, for example, trouble finding words, remembering events, focusing attention, changes in personality, getting lost?
- When did symptoms begin?
- Have symptoms been continuous or occasional?
- How severe are symptoms?
- What, if anything, seems to improve symptoms?
- What, if anything, appears to worsen symptoms?
- Is there a family history of dementia or related conditions such as Huntington's or Parkinson's disease?
- Are there any activities that have had to stop because of difficulty thinking through them?
- Dementia: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/dementias/detail_dementia.htm#1318919213. Accessed Jan. 25, 2010.
- Dementia. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_dementia.asp. Accessed Jan. 25, 2011.
- Alternative treatments. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_alternative_treatments.asp. Accessed Jan. 25, 2011.
- A guide to dementia diagnosis and treatment. The American Geriatrics Society. http://www.americangeriatrics.org/press/listservs/december_10_2010427672/id:1442 Accessed Jan. 25, 2011.
- NIH State-of-the-science conference statement on preventing Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline. National Institutes of Health. http://consensus.nih.gov/2010/docs/alz/alz_stmt.pdf. Accessed Jan. 7, 2011.
- Ritchie K, et al. Designing prevention programmes to reduce incidence of dementia: Prospective cohort study of modifiable risk factors. British Medical Journal. 2010;341:c3885.
- Rusanen M, et al. Heavy smoking in midlife and long-term risk of Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia. Archives of Internal Medicine. In press. Accessed Jan. 25, 2011.
- Siedlecki KL, et al. Comparison of patient and caregiver reports of patient activity participation and its relationship to mental health in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Services. 2009;64B:687.
- Scarmeas N, et al. Physical activity, diet, and risk of Alzheimer's disease. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2009;302:627.
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