Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This video is part of a 3-video series about a study called ADDPCP (Advancing Diagnosis in Primary Care) funded by the National Institutes of Health.
The video explains how doctors determine the cause of memory and thinking problems in older adults.
Doctors will first assess how serious the problem is and whether it is affecting the person's everyday life. They may diagnose dementia if the changes are significant.
Doctors will then try to determine the underlying cause, which could be medical issues, brain diseases like Alzheimer's, or other neurological problems.
To do this, doctors will ask detailed questions about the person's medical history, family history, and daily functioning. They will also perform physical exams and cognitive tests.
Doctors may order blood tests and brain imaging scans like CT, MRI, or PET scans to look for physical changes in the brain.
If the cause is still unclear, the doctor may refer the person to a specialist like a neurologist or neuropsychologist for further evaluation.
The goal is to get a full picture of the person's situation in order to provide the appropriate diagnosis and treatment recommendations.
This video is part of a 3-video series about a study called ADDPCP (Advancing Diagnosis in Primary Care) funded by the National Institutes of Health.
The video explains how doctors determine the cause of memory and thinking problems in older adults.
Doctors will first assess how serious the problem is and whether it is affecting the person's everyday life. They may diagnose dementia if the changes are significant.
Doctors will then try to determine the underlying cause, which could be medical issues, brain diseases like Alzheimer's, or other neurological problems.
To do this, doctors will ask detailed questions about the person's medical history, family history, and daily functioning. They will also perform physical exams and cognitive tests.
Doctors may order blood tests and brain imaging scans like CT, MRI, or PET scans to look for physical changes in the brain.
If the cause is still unclear, the doctor may refer the person to a specialist like a neurologist or neuropsychologist for further evaluation.
The goal is to get a full picture of the person's situation in order to provide the appropriate diagnosis and treatment recommendations.
