Making the Diagnosis
Dementia is diagnosed by the history of symptoms and physical examination. Your doctor may ask you a series of questions to assess cognition, which involves functions of the brain related to memory, recall, decision-making, language, recognition of objects used on a daily basis, and following directions.
Brain scans can show changes in brain structure. Brain scans such as CT (computerized tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) may be used to help identify other conditions (e.g., stroke) that can cause dementia.
Absolute confirmation of the diagnosis can only be made by examination brain tissue after a biopsy or an autopsy after death. If there's a family history of dementia, you may want to consult a doctor.