new HIV diagnoses. Also, syphilis, if not treated, can lead to severe illness with forgetfulness, impairment in judgment, and personality changes that can closely resemble dementia.
While it can be difficult to tell at first glance if your loved one’s memory deficit is Alzheimer’s Disease, the one thing that is important to remember is that the first step should include a medical workup to rule out any other causes of dementia, including the issues above.
This is generally started with your primary care physician and you can be referred to specialists as needed based upon the findings. It is also common to send those with memory deficits such as for testing with a psychologist who can help determine the cause of memory impairment.
Dr. Nicole Washington is a board-certified psychiatrist, speaker, author and host of The C-Suite Confidant, a biweekly podcast covering topics pertinent to mental wellness for the high performer. She enjoys discussing and providing education on all things mental wellness in hopes of decreasing the stigma associated with mental health issues.