What causes forgetfulness in a 70-year-old?

Question

Hello doctor,

My 70-year-old mother has become increasingly forgetful over the past few months. She is misplacing things more often and sometimes struggles to remember recent conversations. I am worried it might be early signs of Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. I have heard that there are new blood tests for these conditions. Can you explain if a blood test could help diagnose what's happening with my mom? What other steps should we take to get her evaluated? Kindly suggest.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern about your mother.

Based on your description, she may have dementia. There is no specific blood test for it. You must do an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) brain for it. The MRI brain is the best investigation for it. You must take her to the nearest psychiatrist for a detailed evaluation. Your psychiatrist will assess using a scale like MMSE (mini-mental state examination). You must rule out some medical conditions that can worsen or lead her to dementia. Please check for hypertension, diabetes, and vitamin deficiency. I suggest you do the following investigations for dementia.

I hope that you get your answer.

Please let me know if you need some help.

Thank you.