Alzheimer's and Your Loved One

Visiting the Doctor

You may not know what to expect when you take your loved one to the doctor. But, the doctor will probably start with a review of your loved one's medical history and symptoms and a physical exam. The doctor may also order additional tests, including routine lab tests.

The doctor may ask how your loved one is acting and managing in their life. The doctor may want to know if your loved one can do daily tasks. Here are a few tasks you may want to describe:

Shopping
Managing money
Dressing
Bathing
Eating

Here are some tests the doctor may use:

	Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE)	The Clock Draw Task (CDT)
Type of test	It includes a series of questions like remembering words, the date, and following simple commands.	The patient is asked to draw the face of a clock at a specific time.
What it helps find out	How much difficulty the patient may have with short-term memory, language, and following instructions.	Whether a person has trouble with planning, and with visual/spatial skills.
When it is used	During diagnosis of the disease and follow-up visits to track changes.	During diagnosis of the disease. It may be used in follow-up visits to track changes.

Other tests the doctor may order are an MRI* or CT scan.^† These are brain-imaging tests that may help your doctor in diagnosing Alzheimer's disease.

Plan ahead to help make your trip to the doctor go more smoothly. Here are some tips that may help:

Make the appointment during your loved one's best time of day. Ask the staff what time of day the office is least crowded.
Let the staff know that your loved one may be confused.
Be positive and matter-of-fact.
Bring an activity to keep your loved one busy.
You might want to bring a friend with you to help. The friend can sit with your loved one while you talk with the doctor.
Your loved one may not act the same in the office as at home. If this is the case, be sure to let the doctor know.

Next page: Questions to Ask Your Doctor

*Magnetic resonance imaging

^† X-ray computerized tomography

Our free Aricept Caregiver’s Guide to Alzheimer’s was compiled by experienced caregivers and includes:

Information about memory loss and Alzheimer’s
The benefits of treating all stages of Alzheimer’s with prescription Aricept
Caregiver resources and support
Questions to ask your doctor

Which of these helps you to cope with you/your loved one's memory loss? (Check all that apply.)

Participating in support groups Counseling Relying on friends Using reminder notes to help you/your loved one remember important tasks/dates Making lists to help keep track of day-to-day activities Writing in a journal Other

Important Safety Information

ARICEPT^® (donepezil HCL tablets) is indicated for the treatment of mild, moderate, and severe dementia of the Alzheimer's type.

ARICEPT is well tolerated but may not be for everyone. People at risk for stomach ulcers or who take certain other medicines should tell their doctors because serious stomach problems, such as bleeding, may get worse. Some people who take ARICEPT may experience fainting. Some people may have nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bruising, or not sleep well. Some people may have muscle cramps or loss of appetite or may feel tired. In studies these were usually mild and temporary. For full prescribing information, please visit Prescribing Information.

This Web site contains information relating to various medical conditions and their treatment. Such information is provided for educational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for the advice of a physician or other health care professional. You should not use this information for diagnosing a health problem or disease. In order for you to make intelligent health care decisions, you should always consult with a physician or other health care provider for your, or your loved one's, personal medical needs.

All quotes included in this Web site represent the individual experience of some doctors, some patients, and their caregivers. Individual responses to Aricept treatment may vary. Actual identities have been changed to protect individual privacy.

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