Richard is correct that there are increasingly new ways to diagnose Alzheimer’s. When my Mom was diagnosed over 10 years ago, it was considered a diagnosis of exclusion meaning that they ruled out everything until ALZ was the only option left. The challenge is, however, that the amyloid plaques that are being tested for are not present in all of the people diagnosed with ALZ, and some people have amyloid plaques and are never diagnosed or show symptoms. The reality is that science doesn’t have a definitive way to explain the physical changes in the body that lead to dementia or Alzheimer’s yet. Also, because dying with dementia is difficult enough, families don’t necessarily have autopsies done to determine if the diagnosis was accurate. There is so much work to be done to discover causes and treatments!

For us, my Mom’s neurologist never waived from ALZ as the diagnosis, based on her MRI (repeated at 5 years), extensive neuropsychology testing and personal and family reporting of behaviors and symptoms. We didn’t have an autopsy done when she died and as a result, her death certificate says “dementia” not Alzheimer’s.

It is also true that most types of dementia start off with the same behaviors and symptoms. The longer the illness lasts, the more differentiation becomes clear. For example, people with FTD have the memory loss and confusion, but the memory loss effects short term memory more than long, and they tend to develop aphasia earlier on than people with Alzheimer’s, as well as more volatile behavioral issues with a lot of anger. The drugs that can address dementia issues are primarily used to try and slow down the middle or moderate stages and doctors will proscribe them before the differentiation between the types of dementia might become apparent.

This is a long winded way to say that the science around it all isn’t advanced enough yet that knowing exactly what is happening, and it comes down to managing the behaviors and symptoms of individual people. Even the newest ALZ drug is only advertised to “slow down” the disease for 5 months in the mild stage. If having a definitive diagnosis is important to you, there are tests, but sometimes, our loved ones are advanced enough that putting them through further physical medical testing doesn’t serve anyone. Hope at least some of this makes sense and helps you!❤️

My wife was diagnosed as having “dementia, probably Alzheimer’s Disease” by her gerontologist based on the normal “20 question test” (which my wife failed) followed by the results of an MRI. The doctor showed me “spaces” on the MRI film where my wife’s brain had shrunk. She also showed me white spaces on the film which she told me were the result of plaque developing in my wife’s brain.

I asked for and received a letter from my wife’s doctor stating that my wife was no longer able to make informed decisions on financial or medical matters. That letter “activated” my rights for both the durable POA and the Advance Medical Directives. The letter also allowed me to make financial decisions for my wife with our financial advisor.

I agree with both comments and would add if your husband has not been diagnoised by a neurologist he needs to be. 7 years is a long time to not have an updated diagnosis as any form of dementia progresses and that really needs to be done to not only find out what form of dementia he has but what stage he is in. 🌹😊

My husband didn’t have a PET scan. He had an MRI, and saw a neurologist and neuropsychologist. He was diagnosed with AD. The neurologist said he also had many signs of Lewey body dementia but not all on the classic signs so he left it with AD. I do see signs on LB dementia, but not all of them so I’m ok with the AD diagnosis. One thing we know is that they ending is the same. All comments above are very valid ones. There is no one test that will give you an accurate diagnosis. All tests results are combined with observations of the person and those close to him to make as clear a diagnosis as possibly. If you are comfortable with your husband’s diagnosis and treatment that is good. If you would prefer more testing then talk to your Dr about it. There is no right or wrong answer. Whatever you choose for your situation is the right answer for you. (((HUGS)))

My husband saw his neurologist on Monday. We’ve been seeing her for about 5 years. I really like her. We’re on the same page as far as limiting drugs to as little as necessary. He had an MRI 5 years ago and also saw a neuropsychologist at that time. His MRI showed little change. He was given a probable diagnosis of mixed dementia (vascular/Alzheimer’s). Both of his parents had dementia, but at that time the testing, as they do today, was not done. He had shown symptoms for about 5 years before I had the courage to bring him to the doctor. He had always said after visiting his mother “I never want to live like that!” Most of the medical profession seem to prefer the 3 stages of early, moderate and late stages. I don’t find the 7 stages all that helpful, since the abilities or lack of, can be found in various stages. It’s not that clear cut. I know better than anyone else what he’s capable of and what abilities have left him. As far as how much time he has left, only his higher power has that answer.