Diagnosing Dementia

Only a licensed medical professional can diagnose dementia. If you’re experiencing concerning symptoms, or if you think a loved one has dementia, schedule a medical assessment immediately. The sooner a diagnosis is made, the sooner everyone can work together to develop a treatment plan.

Mental Status Tests

Physicians often use mental status tests to determine if someone meets the criteria for a dementia diagnosis. One such test is the Mini-Cog, which has three steps: identify three objects, draw the face of a clock and then recall the three objects identified earlier. The test is non-invasive and takes just a few minutes, but it can help your doctor find out if you have any concerning dementia symptoms.

The Mini-Mental State Evaluation is also used to diagnose dementia. The test is a little more involved than the Mini-Cog, as it tests several different cognitive skills. The person administering the test will ask you where you are, what date it is, and what time it is. These questions help determine if you’re oriented to place and time. You’ll also be asked to perform tasks related to comprehension, math, language, and counting. Some physicians use an updated version of the MMSE, the Saint Louis University Mental Status exam. In this modernized version, your score is adjusted based on your education level.

Imaging Tests

Because dementia can develop due to structural changes in the brain, imaging tests are an important diagnostic tool. Computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging are used to view the structures of the brain and look for abnormalities. Positron emission (PET) scanning can also be used to assess the function of your brain, giving your doctor more insight into what might be causing your symptoms. You may need to have multiple imaging tests to give your physician as much information as possible, as some tests provide more detail than others.

The Clinical Dementia Rating Scale

The Clinical Dementia Rating Scale is also used to assess people with symptoms of dementia. For each category, the examiner assigns a rating of 0, 0.5, 1, 2, or 3, with 0 indicating no impairment and 3 indicating severe impairment. The categories include memory, judgment, and problem solving, orientation, home and hobbies, community affairs, and personal care. Category scores are added together to determine a total score; a score of 3.0 to 4.0 indicates very mild dementia, while a score of 16.0 to 18.0 indicates the presence of severe dementia.

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