Tips for Discussing Cognitive Decline with Doctors

DAYTON — Today, more than 6 million people age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia, including 220,000 in Ohio, according to the Alzheimer’s Association’s recent 2023 report “Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures.” .

An accompanying special report, “The Patient’s Journey in the Age of New Treatments,” offers new perspectives from patients and primary care physicians (PCPs) on current barriers that impede earlier discussions of cognitive issues.

The report showed too often people with memory problems and their doctors fail to discuss the issue, missing a critical first step towards diagnosis and potential treatment.

According to the report, individuals are hesitant because they believe their experiences are related to normal aging, rather than a diagnosable medical condition. For PCPs, the report shows that they do not proactively ask their patients questions about cognitive issues and will wait for the individual or family members to bring it to their attention.

“For the first time in nearly two decades, there are treatments for people in the early stages of the disease that can slow progression and give them more time with family and loved ones,” said Annemarie Barnett, executive director. of the Alzheimer’s Association. Greater Cincinnati and Miami Valley Chapters. “More than ever before, these conversations about memory or other cognitive issues an individual is facing are critical and need to be taken up quickly when an issue comes up.”

To help individuals become more confident and ready to discuss their cognitive issues, the Alzheimer’s Association offers these three tips for talking to healthcare professionals about memory and cognitive issues:

Find the right doctor: In most cases, the first point of contact for memory and thinking issues is your primary care physician. Ask your doctor if he or she is comfortable identifying and diagnosing cognitive problems and if there are any circumstances in which he or she would refer to a specialist. Most often, your doctor will perform an initial evaluation and, if cognitive decline is detected, order more advanced tests or refer you to a specialist for a more definitive diagnosis. If your doctor does not take your concerns seriously, seek a second opinion.

Be prepared: Come to your visit with a list of any changes in your health, including your mood, memory, and behaviors. Include a list of past and current medical conditions, current prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, including vitamins or supplements. Most importantly, make sure you have your list of questions and be prepared to answer the doctor’s questions honestly and to the best of your ability.

Educate yourself: When talking to the doctor, be sure to ask what tests will be done, what the tests involve, how long each test takes, and when the results will be available.

“While discussing cognitive issues with your healthcare provider can be difficult, it’s really important,” said Dayna Ritchey, program director of Alzheimer’s Association Greater Cincinnati and Miami Valley Chapters. “Having these conversations with a doctor can help facilitate early detection and diagnosis, providing individuals and families with significant benefits, not just treatments, but emotional and social benefits, access to clinical trials and more. time to plan for the future.It is also important to note that some forms of cognitive decline can be treated.

There are 493,000 caregivers caring for 220,000 Ohioans ages 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association’s “2023 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures.” The number of Ohioans living with Alzheimer’s disease is expected to reach 225,000 by 2025.

Those concerned about themselves or a loved one can contact the Miami Valley Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association at 937-291-3332 to schedule a care consultation with a social worker who can offer connections to local resources that can help.