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If your husband is showing signs of Alzheimer - loosing his memory - it can be a lot of disease. First you'll have to find out which one he has. could be alzheimer, could be a tumor or others...

PET scan is the best but costly about $ 1,200 to $1,600 in my area. Depending on the lab and if you have insurance or not. Ask the : " area on aging" agency if they can help. It is a state program in some state.

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For us getting a PET CT was worth while.  See my experience on this at http://www.dxjunction.com/users/AlzWell/diagnoses/9-alzheimer-s/procedure_occurrences/21-pet-ct-alzheimers-disease

But since you said your resources are limited, I like using the survey technique which others have commented on here.

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Hi again,

I found this site which answers some questions and gives a doctors questionnaire. 

http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_know_the_10_signs.asp

I hope this helps.

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Hi MyBen,

There are over 86 different types of dementia and Alzheimer's is just one of them. Did you know that 15% of memory loss is reversible if caught in time? Something as simple as a vitamin deficiency diabetes can cause memory loss. He could also have fluid on the brain or a tumor that be  the cause of memory loss.All the Aricept in the world is not going to help a person who has a physical reason for memory loss.This is why the testing is so important. Typically, a doctor will order blood tests and a brain scan- to not only rule out what it's not, but to pinpoint what type of memory loss Ben has.If your insurance doesn't cover this negotiate with the lab and the hospital.

Almost every state has an Alzheimer's Disease Center that offer diagnosis, treatment and research opportunities. Most recieve grants from the state and tests may be covered under their grants. Hope this helps.

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My husband's neurologist did the basic questioning that Ray just described.  One other test that he did was to ask him to draw the face of a clock with all the numbers in the correct places, then draw in the hands to show 3:00.  The first time he had trouble remembering where the numbers went and could not draw the hands at the 3:00 position.  By the next appointment he could barely draw a circle, and could not draw in any of the numbers, much less the hands showing a time. 

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When it was obvious that my wife was having a memory problem, I took her to a neurologist.  He asked her simple questions:  What day is it?  What month is it?  What city is this?  When were you born?  Who is president?  What color is the sky? and other trivial things.  Then he named three objects, told her to repeat them and said he would ask her later if she remembered them. Later on during the interview he asked her to recall the three objects.  He did this during the next two annual visits.  With each visit she was able to recall fewer.  It was during the initial interview when I asked if Aricept would help and he said any claims made for Aricept helping were unfounded.  When brain cells are gone they are not replaced.

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Hi! 

With so much technology now, I understand they can make probable diagnosis...But I agree...big tests are not so important.  Most Doctors can give simple testing that should not cost more than a visit...check into Alz Assoc....they should be able to direct you.  There are meetings..etc.

Remember too...the dimentia is what is caused by Alzheimers...so, really...look at how you could help your husband with dimentia...and don't get so concerned right now about "why he has dimentia.....You could probably even do some of your own questioning to him that would help you determine how to move ahead..  If so...you'll want to start on medication..Aricept or Namenda or something...this will keep it from advancing so fast...There are GREAT books at the library that will probably answer some of your questions!  They even have sample type testing you could do with him.  It will be fine! :~)

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