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Tests your doctor might recommend
Your doctor may order these tests to help diagnose Alzheimer's disease, to understand the disease, or to rule out other disorders that cause symptoms similar to those of Alzheimer's disease.
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Laboratory tests: When a doctor is diagnosing a disorder, he or she often orders laboratory tests on certain fluids and tissue samples from the body. These tests can help identify problems and diseases. There are hundreds of laboratory tests available to help a doctor make a diagnosis. The most common are blood tests and urinalysis. Blood tests involve a series of tests routinely done on blood to look for abnormalities associated with various diseases and disorders. A number of studies are generally recommended, including blood count, chemical survey, thyroid screen, vitamin B12 level, and occasionally a serologic test for syphilis. Blood tests also may be used to look for the presence of a specific gene that has been identified as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. (Genetic testing for Alzheimer's disease occurring after age 60 is not generally recommended.) A urinalysis is a test in which a urine sample is evaluated to detect abnormalities, such as improper levels of sugar or protein. This test may be used by the doctor to help rule out other disorders that may be causing symptoms similar to those of Alzheimer's disease.
Neuropsychological testing: This studies the relationship between the brain and behavior. It is used when the patient is having serious problems with short- and long-term memory, attention and concentration, word and name association, language understanding, and other symptoms that persist or worsen over time. These tests help in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions that affect thinking, emotion, and behavior. These include Alzheimer's disease, various psychiatric problems (depression, anxiety disorders), medication-related conditions, substance abuse, strokes, and tumors. Neuropsychological tests accompany a comprehensive interview with the patient and may include tests to assess attention, memory, language, ability to do arithmetic, the ability to plan and reason, and the ability to modify behavior, as well as assessments of personality and emotional stability. Neuropsychological testing also can help the doctor and family better understand the impact of a disorder on a patient's everyday functioning.
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): A recording of the heart's electrical activity. This activity is registered as a graph or series of wavy lines on a moving strip of paper. This gives the doctor important information about the heart. For example, it can show the heart's rate and rhythm. It also can help show decreased blood flow, enlargement of the heart, or the presence of damage due to a current or past heart attack. EKGs are non-invasive, quick, safe, and painless, and are routinely done if a heart condition is suspected. This test may be used by the doctor to help rule out other disorders that may be causing symptoms similar to those of Alzheimer's disease.
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