5 Benefits of an Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or Dementia

It can be frightening when you notice your older adult begin to show signs of cognitive impairment, such as judgment problems or memory loss. If they start behaving strangely, the first thought that often comes to mind is whether this might be the onset of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

Rather than become paralyzed with fear of the unknown, it’s best to directly address your questions and fears. Start by having your senior get a thorough doctor’s exam to come up with a professional diagnosis. Dementia-like symptoms often turn out to be caused by a completely treatable medical condition, in which case you can start your older adult on a treatment regimen so they can get back to “normal” quickly.

If it turns out, however, that their symptoms are indeed caused by Alzheimer’s or dementia, it’s very beneficial to get a specific diagnosis as early as possible. This gives all parties more time to plan for the future, research resources and support possibilities, and evaluate treatment options.

Below are five reasons why your senior’s quality of life can be significantly improved by having a complete medical exam and getting a proper symptom diagnosis early on:

1. Rule out the possibility of Alzheimer’s or dementia. Just because someone is presenting signs of cognitive or memory issues doesn’t always mean they have a form of developing dementia. Many very treatable health conditions cause symptoms that can mimic dementia, such as medication side effects, urinary tract infections (UTIs), hospital-induced delirium, and normal pressure hydrocephalus. By getting a medical exam, your senior will find out what’s causing the symptoms and can start getting help.
2. Maximize benefits from available treatments. Time can often be of the essence with dementia treatments. With an early diagnosis, treatment can begin right away. Many medications and lifestyle changes are most effective in the early stages of dementia, delaying or even reducing the onset of severe symptoms.
3. Give yourself and your loved one more time to plan for the future. Once your senior has a diagnosis and prognosis, they’ll know better how to start planning for what’s down the road. They can make important financial and care decisions in advance, such as choosing a power of attorney or signing legal documents. They can also let you know their preferences for end-of-life decisions before their cognitive function becomes too impaired, so you won’t have to guess or argue with family about this when the time comes.
4. Pursue lifelong dreams before symptoms become too severe. Dementia symptoms typically worsen with time, gradually becoming severe enough to radically limit cognitive abilities. If your older adult still has unfulfilled items on their “bucket list,” an early diagnosis gives them time to work on the list and accomplish any important goals while they still can.
5. Get support and resources. You don’t know what you don’t know. If you have no idea what’s causing ongoing symptoms or puzzling behavior, you won’t know where to start looking for help. Once you know specifically what you’re dealing with, you’ll be able to strategically look for the right resources and get support. Getting the necessary information equips you to better manage daily challenges.

So instead of panicking and fearing the worst if your loved one begins displaying troubling signs of cognitive decline or odd behavior, stay level-headed and schedule an appointment for a full medical exam as soon as possible. Once you know exactly what you’re dealing with, you’ll be able to help your senior better survey their options and begin making preparations for the future. Taking action early on is much better than waiting to see how things develop and losing valuable treatment or planning time.