Dementia is an umbrella term that describes a series of cognitive symptoms that can cause impairment in an individual. Symptoms can include memory loss, confusion, disorientation, altered judgment, mood swings, change in personality, delusions, hallucinations, and other changes. Although there are a number of reasons why an individual would experience such symptoms, Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common contributors. In order to find out if you have dementia (and determine the cause of it, whether it is Alzheimer’s disease or another reason), you should start out by visiting your primary care physician. Your physician may run a series of tests, and/or refer you to a neurologist for further evaluation. Testing for dementia may include the following: blood and urine analysis, comprehensive medical history, cognitive screen, brain image scans (MRI, PET, CAT, etc.). Once a doctor has ruled out all possible explanations, a diagnosis of dementia can be issued. This would be the time to discuss potential treatments and next steps on how to promote the highest level of health and well-being.