Diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease can be difficult since there’s no single test that can determine if someone has it. But it’s also hard to diagnose because other diseases may mimic symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

“We thought my husband had Alzheimer’s,” one myALZteam member said. “But the neurologist diagnosed him as having short-term memory loss caused by sleep apnea and the aging process, not Alzheimer’s.”

Read on to find out which other conditions may mimic Alzheimer’s disease and what symptoms you should look for.

Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) and other infections may lead to a symptom called delirium. When delirium occurs, it can cause an unexpected, sudden change in a person’s cognitive function. The person may be disoriented or experience memory problems. Delirium symptoms are easy to confuse with Alzheimer’s disease symptoms.

Delirium may occur due to inflammation from the infection. Older adults may develop more serious infections, which can make delirium more likely to occur.

It may be hard to differentiate delirium caused by UTIs from Alzheimer’s disease. But people with UTIs typically have other symptoms besides confusion and forgetfulness. They may have to urinate more often, and it could burn or sting when they urinate. Treatment with antibiotics typically cures a UTI.

Head Injuries

You don’t need to have a severe head injury for your memory to be affected. Some minor head injuries can lead to dementia-like symptoms. If you fall, bump your head, or have any other brain impact, you may experience issues like memory loss and confusion.

As your brain heals after a head injury, your memories should return. But this can take months or years for some people. Any head injury should be checked out by a neurologist or other healthcare provider. The most common treatment for head injuries is rest, but your doctor may also prescribe other therapies or medication.

Medication Side Effects

Some medications that you take for other conditions may cause dementia-like symptoms. For instance, anticholinergic drugs block how a chemical called acetylcholine functions in your body. Acetylcholine is important for your brain’s learning and memory abilities. Anticholinergics include certain medications used for depression, Parkinson’s disease, allergies, overactive bladder, irritable bowel syndrome, and insomnia.

In some cases, these medications may cause memory issues, confusion, or delirium. Plus, using them long term may increase the risk of developing dementia. Other drugs that can lead to dementia-like symptoms include corticosteroids, chemotherapy, and pain medications. If you find that your memory isn’t sharp or you have other symptoms after starting one of these drugs, speak to your doctor.

Thyroid Problems

Issues with your thyroid can cause problems with how your brain functions. If you have too many or too few thyroid hormones in your body, you could experience dementia-like symptoms.

If your thyroid is underactive, it’s called hypothyroidism. This condition can lead to challenges with thinking or feeling like you’re in a fog. If your thyroid is overactive, it’s called hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism can cause short-term memory problems and concentration issues.

One key difference is that thyroid issues typically also affect your energy levels, heart rate, cholesterol levels, and bowel function. Alzheimer’s disease may not impact these functions. If your doctor suspects you might have a thyroid issue, they’ll order a blood test to check your thyroid hormone levels. Thyroid issues can be treated with drugs, which should ease any cognitive symptoms.

Depression

Depression and other mental health disorders can lead people to have memory issues. People with depression may also have challenges enjoying life. These symptoms can overlap with those of Alzheimer’s disease.

In addition, when people of older age get depressed, it may cause a condition called pseudodementia. Pseudodementia can lead to forgetfulness or slowness, so it can be mistaken for Alzheimer’s disease. It can be controlled with depression treatments.

To differentiate depression from dementia, take note of how quickly the symptoms develop. Cognitive changes progress faster in people with depression than dementia. In addition, individuals with depression don’t have as many short-term memory issues as those with dementia.

Parkinson’s Disease

Some people with Parkinson’s disease experience cognitive decline. This makes it hard to differentiate Alzheimer’s from Parkinson’s disease. “Our first neurologist appointment determined my loved one has primary Parkinsonism, which dementia seems to go along with,” one myALZteam member said.

While some people with Parkinson’s are slightly forgetful, others with the condition experience dementia. One key difference is that people with Parkinson’s will have problems with their physical movements, and not just cognitive symptoms. Plus, those with Parkinson’s are more likely to experience challenges accessing memories. Those with Alzheimer’s, on the other hand, have difficulty storing new information. In addition, Parkinson’s usually comes on at an earlier age (before 65), while Alzheimer’s typically develops after that age.

Sleep Disorders

Some sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), may have similar symptoms to Alzheimer’s disease. OSA causes people to momentarily stop breathing as they sleep at night. This can wake a person, often without them realizing it. Sleeping poorly or having interrupted sleep can make it hard to concentrate and remember things.

Treatments are available for OSA. For most people, getting treated for the condition helps their memory problems go away. But there are people with sleep issues who have permanent memory loss. That’s why it’s important to get treatment right away if you don’t feel like you’re sleeping well at night.

Nutrition Deficiency

If you’re missing certain nutrients in your diet, you may have symptoms that mimic dementia. For instance, a folate or vitamin B12 deficiency can cause mood changes, memory loss, problem-solving issues, and confusion.

Treatment involves changes to your diet to replenish the vitamins you’re missing. A doctor can perform testing to see if you’re deficient in any important nutrients. They can then refer you to a registered dietitian to develop an eating plan that can help you get the vitamins you need. They may also prescribe supplements.

“My mom’s B12 was a little low,” one myALZteam member said. “Now with the higher dose of B12, we have had 10 days of having my mom like her good old self.”

Other Forms of Dementia

Alzheimer’s disease isn’t the only cognitive disorder that can cause memory loss. Other types of dementia include:

• Vascular dementia
• Frontotemporal dementia
• Lewy body dementia

Only a doctor who’s specially trained in recognizing and diagnosing neurological conditions can tell which one a person might have.

Speak With Your Doctor

If you or a loved one has been experiencing memory issues and other cognitive symptoms, make an appointment with a neurologist, psychiatrist, or other professional who can diagnose Alzheimer’s. They can perform tests and physical exams to pinpoint the cause and rule out other issues. Once you get a diagnosis, you can find treatments that may help.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On myALZteam, the social network for people with Alzheimer’s and their loved ones, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with Alzheimer’s.

Have you or a loved one experienced cognitive impairment that you thought was Alzheimer’s disease? What medical conditions were causing your symptoms of dementia? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.