How to Test for Dementia

Dementia is a common, very debilitating disease, and it can sometimes be difficult to diagnose. There is no surefire way to test it at home, and a doctor's visit is highly recommended if you suspect symptoms. A friend or family member can administer the Mini-Mental State Exam for a general idea of cognitive function, but a doctor can make best use of the results.
Method 1 of 1: Preparing for a Doctor's Visit
1.Make an appointment with a doctor. The other sections on this page contain tests which you can take at home. These can give you a little information if you have no other options, but they are not a good replacement for a doctor's diagnosis, according to the Alzheimer's Association.
2. Prepare your medical history. Some drugs, medical conditions, and family history (indicating genetic problems) can put you at higher risk of dementia. Others mimic some symptoms of dementia, such as memory loss, but can be reversed if the doctor discovers the cause. Be ready to give your doctor the following information:

    Your diet, alcohol use, and drug use. Bring the bottles of any medication you are taking.
    Other known medical issues.
    Changes in your behavior (especially related to social situations or eating habits).
    Which of your biologically related family members have had dementia or dementia-like symptoms, if any.


3. Take a physical exam. Since dementia can be caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, the physical checkup should include a blood pressure reading, taking your pulse, and a temperature measurement. Your doctor may also test your balance, reflexes, and eye movement, or perform a variety of other tests depending on your exact symptoms.
4. Take a cognitive exam. There are many types of mental exams used to test for dementia, some of which are included in this article. Some common questions include:

    State the day, month, and year.
    Draw a clock face at twenty past eight.
    Count backward from 100 by 7s.
5.Undergo lab tests if necessary. If your doctor does not request blood samples or other lab tests, you might want to ask about thyroid hormone tests and vitamin B12 tests, since these are common tests that can potentially narrow down the cause of your symptoms. There are many other tests that could be requested based on your specific medical history, but those are not necessary for every patient.
6. Ask about brain scans. If you are showing some symptoms but the cause is not clear, the doctor may recommend a brain scan to investigate possibilities besides dementia. CT scans, MRI scans, and EEG tests are the most common types of scans used to help diagnose dementia-like symptoms.

    If your doctor is considering an MRI, let her know about any implants or alterations that cannot be removed, such as tattoos, replacement joints, pacemakers, or shrapnel fragments.

How to Deal With Fainting Spells

Being prone to fainting is known as suffering from fainting spells or syncope. It's not that uncommon––indeed, fainting spells are experienced by around a third of healthy adolescents.[1] Fainting is a frightening experience, and if you experience it often, it can lead to much anxiety and stress. Being prone to fainting places you in danger of hurting yourself because it can happen at any moment. Read below the jump for information on dealing with fainting spells, hopefully making your next spell a bit safer.

1. Know what to do to stay safe when you feel faint. Feeling faint can happen at almost any time. If you don't do the right thing at the right time, you may severely injure yourself. It is recommended that you go through each of the following steps when you faint, to reduce the risks involved with a fainting spell:

    Sit down. Not sitting means you risk falling and cracking open your head on something sharp or hard, or worse. Don't do anything before you sit down.
    Breathe deeply. If you are dealing with anxiety, stress or hyperventilating at the moment, then deep, slow breathing should help you within seconds.
    Call for help. Yell as loudly as you can. You may feel like you're talking very quietly because what is happening to you is taking precedence over your hearing. Don't worry; just keep calling for someone until you think you have their attention.
        If someone does come, tell them that you're going to faint. They will be able to do whatever they can.
    Find a place to elevate your feet. This will help you become conscious faster.
    Remain calm. If you can, develop some self-calming techniques that will help you both when you're suffering a fainting spell, and in general. Such things as meditation, visualizing a safe place and repetitive phrases can help you to self soothe.

2. Be prepared when you become conscious again. Fainting is definitely scary, that's why when you wake up, you might scream and/or feel disoriented. Just be calm, you're okay. There is a chance that you've urinated.

    Take some time and lie down or sit up and rest.
    When you're ready, get up slowly.
    If you are alone, try and find someone for help.

3.Tell your doctor that you've fainted. He or she will need to check all the possible reasons behind why you are fainting. Be sure to see a doctor; having the right advice can be helpful because you can work out what to avoid doing that might be causing you to faint.