Signs of Dementia

Doctors can diagnose dementia and its causes or probable causes through a complete medical history and through physical exams and tests.

A person's medical history includes use of prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diet, past medical problems, and general health. The doctor also may ask a family member for information about the person.

Tests of blood and urine may be done to look for problems. There are also tests of mental abilities (tests of memory, problem solving, counting, and language). Other kinds of tests used may include brain scans using computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET).