Final answer:
To diagnose Alzheimer's disease, an MRI of the head, neuropsychologic testing, and various blood tests like liver function tests are typically performed. These help rule out other causes and assess cognitive function.
Step-by-step explanation:
Diagnostic Tests for Alzheimer's Disease
Before a patient is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, several diagnostic tests may be performed. These tests are meant to rule out other conditions and to assess the severity of cognitive impairment. Commonly conducted tests to diagnose Alzheimer's include:
- MRI of the head to look for structural changes in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer's disease.
- Neuropsychologic testing which includes tasks designed to evaluate memory, such as the three-word recall test, as well as language abilities, like language comprehension and fluency assessments.
- Blood tests, such as liver function tests and assessments of Blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine, are used to check for other conditions that could be causing symptoms similar to Alzheimer's disease.
Urinalysis is also often included as part of a comprehensive assessment, though it is not specific to Alzheimer's. These tests collectively help provide a clear clinical picture, which, when aligned with symptoms such as disruptive memory loss, confusion about time or place, and difficulty planning or executing tasks, can lead to an Alzheimer's diagnosis.
Furthermore, recent developments in blood tests for early detection of amyloid-beta (Aß) molecules and the use of brain imaging techniques show promise in identifying Alzheimer's earlier, before major symptoms appear.