Prepare yourself, and your elderly parents, for a diagnosis. The more information you have available, the better to make informed decisions and plans. A dementia diagnosis is determined through a series of steps. There are many different possible tests to...

In most cases, you should tell your elderly parent(s) they have dementia. It is in their best interest to know what’s going on with their health. Chances are, seniors already realize something’s wrong. You can have the discussion...

It’s important to find professional help after noticing early symptoms of elderly dementia. Find the right doctor. Doctors who specialize in dementia will ask about problems related to common dementia behaviors. Look for a physician whose specialty is...

If you suspect that your elderly parent(s) has dementia, document and share dementia behaviors with a doctor. Keep a record of the symptoms, and track signs of dementia using your phone or a journal. It’s important to share specific...

Specialists will want to know about the patient’s medical history and habits. Modifiable risk factors, like smoking and high blood pressure, can play a role in dementia risk. So can family history. There are behavior habits which...

Diagnosing elder dementia is not simple, nor easy. Professional expertise is required. Here are some of the methods doctors use to help diagnose dementia: -- Cognitive and neuropsychological tests assess language and math skills, memory, problem-solving and other types...

There are many, medically differentiated types of dementia. And, people can also have mixed dementia, a combination of two or more types, such as Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia. However, the following are the most well known, and the most frequently...

Continuing with part 2 on our series discussing signs of dementia... According to 2023 figures from the Alzheimer’s Association, an estimated 6.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. This accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases,...

What is dementia?  Dementia is a catch-all term for changes in the brain that cause a loss of functioning that interferes with daily life. It can diminish focus, attention, language skills, problem-solving and visual perception. Dementia can also make...

Is our advanced medical system, driven and supported by the technical advancements of science, overly biased toward prolonging life? There are many arguments pro and con on this issue, and all are with merit (and may be completely subjective). However,...