Finding A Physician - Diagnosing Alzheimers Disease: Alzheimers

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Finding a physician

It's important to find a physician experienced in Alzheimer's diagnosis. If a physician diagnoses Alzheimer's after only a cursory examination, get a second opinion. A complete evaluation by a physician experienced in diagnosing Alzheimer's is essential to exclude other health problems that could cause cognitive difficulties. Your family physician may do part of the evaluation and then recommend a neurologist, geriatrician, or other specialist to complete it. Your local Alzheimer's Association chapter, medical school, or hospital can also help identify appropriate specialists.

Before scheduling an appointment, ask what diagnostic procedures will be used. If the evaluation does not sound comprehensive (see "The evaluation process"), seek another physician. If you are unsatisfied with the evaluation, get a second opinion.

Once a diagnosis is made, find a physician experienced in providing ongoing care to meet the changing needs of someone with Alzheimer's disease. The doctor who makes the diagnosis may not be the one who will oversee the long-term care. For this purpose, the family needs to choose someone who's knowledgeable about managing dementing illnesses and able to communicate well with family members.

Last updated:	January 23, 2007