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 What
is Dementia?
Dementia
refers to a decline in mental ability significant enough to cause
impairment in social or occupational functioning. The decline, which
is related to changes in the brain, is much greater than would be
expected from normal aging. Loss of memory is necessary for diagnosis,
as well reductions in other areas of intellectual functioning such
as judgment and problem-solving.
Dementia
has many possible causes. The most common is Alzheimer's Disease,
which accounts for about half of all cases of dementia. But, there
are many other causes of dementia, including vascular disease, infections,
tumors, and toxic conditions.
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 When
Should a Neuropsychological Evaluation Be Performed?
When
an individual, family, or caregiver becomes aware of a decline in
mental functioning which impairs memory, learning, attention, or
the ability to function independently at home or in the community.
It
is important to obtain a neuropsychological evaluation when problems
are first suspected, in order to clarify the diagnosis. However,
neuropsychological evaluation is usually undertaken only after medical
causes have been ruled out.
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Why
is a Neuropsychological Evaluation Important?
- It determines whether a person's abilities are
truely impaired, by comparing actual performance with normal aging,
using standardized tests.
- It is decisive in the diagnosis of dementia because
it can detect subtle impairments before they become obvious. This
is essential because treatment is most useful early in the course
of the illness.
- It is the most effective way to distinguish between
true dementia and depression. Aging individuals can be prone to
depression, which often produces symptoms that look like dementia,
but are reversible.
- It is the most systematic method for monitoring
an individual's condition. When the neuropsychologist compares
test results over time, he or she can tell whether the person's
condition has changed and whether treatment should be revised.
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How
Does Neuropsychological Evaluation Help?
- It identifies strengths which can help the person
being evaluated to function at the maximum level of independence.
- It identifies weaknesses or impairments which
may necessitate changes in the individual's environment.
- It provides specific recommendations regarding
the level of care required and helps determine if supervision
will be needed.
- It helps determine when changes in the level
of care should be made.
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