Diagnosis and treatment

A diagnosis is made by a specialist (neurologist, gerontologist). The clinician tests for mental capacity, for example, using the "Mini Mental Status Test" (MMST) or the “DemTect”. They will also have an in-depth conversation with the concerned person and their relatives. To rule out other causes, blood and urine tests and imaging procedures such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are carried out.

Treatment

If dementia is diagnosed, medication (antidementia drugs) can slow down the progression of the disease, but they cannot cure it. The doctor may prescribe further treatment (physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy). This helps to maintain independence for as long as possible.

• Diagnosing dementia (Demenz diagnostizieren), Dementia Australia
• Diagnosis - Informing the person with dementia (Mitteilung der Diagnose), Dementia Australia
• Drug treatments and dementia (Medikamentöse Behandlung und Demenz), Dementia Australia