The Value of a Dementia Diagnosis

In our June education class, Dementia 101: Navigating Dementia Diagnosis & Symptoms, some participants asked if there is any value in getting an "official" dementia diagnosis. They questioned if having a diagnosis "really changes anything," given the progressive nature of the illness and the absence of a cure.

In her recent article, Dr. Natali Edmonds, board-certified Geropsychologist and founder of Dementia Careblazers, offered insight for when dementia concerns arise. She points out the following benefits of diagnosis.

• Ruling out other causes: Not every older adult with thinking problems has dementia. There are a list of conditions that can look like dementia. These include things like nutritional deficiencies, poor hearing, medication side effects, and depression to name a few. Testing helps rule out those conditions as causes for the thinking problems. If one (or more) or those issues is present, then things to help in those areas can also help in thinking.
• Early Intervention: By knowing what's happening earlier on in the disease process, the person can have a great chance at medications aimed to help slow or alleviate the symptoms. The further along someone is in their dementia, the less likely those medications are to work.
• Estate planning/Future Planning: By knowing what's happening, you can get your estate and important paperwork in place while your loved one is still able to participate. When the dementia progresses, they may no longer be able to participate in some of the important planning and any major changes could be disputed in court if done during a time the dementia symptoms were more significant.
• Qualification for Services: Having an official diagnosis may also qualify your loved one for certain services and benefits that they may not otherwise receive.
• Possible clinical trails: Your loved one is more likely to qualify for clinical trials and ground-breaking medications when caught early.

A diagnosis helps individuals and their care partners understand why a person is experiencing noticeable changes and provides a path for moving forward. Dr. Edmonds notes, "Not everyone gets an official diagnosis of dementia. In fact, most people don't. But if you find yourself fortunate enough to have dementia specialists in your area and your loved one is open to an appointment, this may be something to consider."