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mlcjohnson Asked April 2019

Dad, 85 was diagnosed yesterday with dementia. His doctor has ordered a brain scan. Will this tell what type of dementia he has?

He also has Parkinson's disease.

mollymoose Apr 2019
The specialist evaluating my mom ordered a 3D MRI and then diagnosed her with vascular dementia (he had already said Lewy Body Dementia during a visit) saying it had shown numerous mini-strokes. We had no idea she even had any!

Countrymouse Apr 2019
Not exactly, not necessarily. But it will rule out certain things, and it may show certain diagnostic other things. It certainly is worth doing.

Is your father all right with having the scan done? He's not worried about it? If he is, appeal to the radiographer to give him a little extra t.l.c. - I would expect a radiographer to have masses of experience in giving clear instructions and reassurance to anxious patients, who by the nature of the patient group may not be doing too well cognitively. And are often a bit deaf, too.

If you (like me) are given to morbid curiosity, spend some leisure time on Google typing in "Alzheimer's MRI," "vascular dementia on CT," and similar topics. This will at least give you an idea of the type and quality of information your father's doctor is aiming to get.
mlcjohnson Apr 2019
He has no apprehensions at all. It will be done Friday but being forgetful like he is he will need to be told again he will be having it done

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cwillie Apr 2019
Not necessarily. What it will do is show what he doesn't have: strokes, tumours, hydrocephalus or other diseases that will show up in a brain scan.

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