One of the most valuable professionals on the dementia patient’s team is the neuropsychologist. They are often overlooked by the physician members of the treatment group. The patient does not require a physician order for this testing, but it is important that the healthcare provider is aware of the desire and results of the testing.
Neuropsychologists are psychologists that assess and correlate the physical brain to behaviors that are manifested by this organ. They do this by using standardized testing. The testing includes some elements that are then evaluated as a set of data points to identify the pathology in the brain. There are written, verbal and memory elements of the testing which takes about 3 hours.
This team member is of particular value for the individual with memory impairment. The memory impairment may be early or late in the disease process. The neuro-psych professional can assist the team with monitoring the progression of dementia with episodic testing. The testing is also valuable in the diagnosing of Minor Cognitive Impairment (MCI) the pathology that may or may not progress to full-blown Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia.
The other outcome of the testing is to identify the cause of the cognitive impairment. There are many reasons that an individual can no longer remember. We know that some are reversible, but when we cannot find a reversible reason for the confusion, the neuropsychologist will provide the team with a diagnosis that has more specificity than the generic testing that is done in a physician’s office.
This professional organization can be reached at https://theaacn.org/. They have branches in all areas of the country and are only a phone call away.
Please consider adding the Neuropsychologist to the team if you have a family member with dementia or if you feel your memory is failing. They provide an objective element to this evasive disease process. Contact me if you have questions about the benefits of having a Neuropsychologist on your team.