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Five Standard Tests Which May Reveal an Alzheimer's Diagnosis

Hearing the news that a family member has received an Alzheimer's diagnosis can be an emotionally devastating moment in anyone's life. However, before the Alzheimer's diagnosis can be given to the patient and their family, the patient must undergo a variety of laboratory tests, such as medical assessments and laboratory measurements. There is no single test existing that will categorically give the Alzheimer's diagnosis.

Types of Tests to Rule Out Alzheimer's

The first type of test a patient will undergo before Alzheimer's can be ruled out is a medical interview. The patient will also be required to fill out a medical questionnaire by the physician. The interview will focus on the patient's medical history such as the past ailments and use of medical drugs.

The second type of test a patient will undergo before an Alzheimer's diagnosis can be ruled out is an extensive physical examination. These types of tests will involve examinations on the patient's eyesight, blood pressure, and heart beat.

The third type of test a patient will undergo before an Alzheimer's diagnosis can be ruled out are a series of laboratory examinations. There the patient will provide the laboratory with blood and urine samples. Other examinations will involve taking the patient's blood count, liver functions, glucose levels, and other tests.

The fourth type of test a patient will undergo before an Alzheimer's diagnosis can be ruled out is neuro-psychological testing. Patients who receive these kinds of examinations can expect to perform abstract thinking, problem-solving tests, and vision-motor coordination. This type of test aims to isolate the problem areas, which might provide clues to the source of the illness.

The fifth type of test a patient undergoes a patient will undergo before an Alzheimer's diagnosis can be ruled out is a brain-imaging scan. Depending on the doctor's requirement, the patient may undergo a CT or MRI. MRI, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, is a radiology technique designed to produce images of the internal structures of the body with the use of radio waves, magnetism, and a computer.

At the conclusion of all these tests, and depending on the results, the physician will inform the patient whether or not it is possible they have Alzheimer's. The only irrefutable way that an Alzheimer's diagnosis can be confirmed is during autopsy post-mortem; there the brain tissue of the patient can be examined thoroughly.

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