Diagnosing and treating Alzheimer’s Disease is, of course, the job of a neurologist in Boca Raton, Florida. A neurologist is a specialist in treating pain and disorders that involve, generally, the brain, the spinal column, and the body’s nervous system.
Alzheimer’s Disease, like other forms of dementia, is characterized by progressive degeneration of the brain. As the brain shrinks and becomes more and more damaged, it loses connections with many of the nerves in the body.
As a result, the patient loses control of some of his or her cognitive and motor abilities, particularly the areas in the brain that govern short-term memory. This also comes with physical pain as the brain is slowly eaten away, which is why a neurologist also specializes in nerve pain treatment for patients with Dementia.
But how is Alzheimer’s Disease diagnosed? According to the National Institute on Aging, physicians will subject the patient to the following tests before making a possible diagnosis and forwarding the case to a neurologist:
- Order medical tests to study the blood and urine causes of symptoms
- Order brain imaging tests like CT scans, MRI, and PET
- Subject the patient to memory and IQ tests, as well as language, arithmetic, and attention span testing
The physician will conduct a detailed interview with the patient’s family in order to build a comprehensive and accurate medical history to be referred to in treatment.
Testing for dementia in general is not a one-time affair. A visit every 6 to 12 months may be necessary to measure the patient’s memory problems and rule out a diagnosis.
Do you need a trusted neurologist? Call us at Boca Raton Neurologic Associates. We can provide neurological testing to treat a variety of conditions, including prescriptions for migraine treatment in Florida.