When to see a doctor

If you're concerned about memory loss, seek medical care. There are tests to determine the degree of memory loss and diagnose the cause.

A member of your healthcare team is likely to ask you questions. It's good to have a family member or friend along to answer some questions based on observations. Questions might include:

• When did your memory symptoms begin?
• What medicines do you take and in what doses? This includes prescriptions, medicines you get without a prescription and dietary supplements.
• Have you recently started a new medicine?
• What tasks do you find hard?
• What have you done to cope with memory loss?
• How much alcohol do you drink?
• Have you recently been in an accident, fallen or injured your head?
• Have you recently been sick?
• Do you feel sad, depressed or anxious?
• Have you recently had a major loss, a major change or a stressful event in your life?

In addition to giving you a physical exam, your healthcare professional is likely to give you question-and-answer tests. These tests help judge your memory and other thinking skills. You may need blood tests, brain-imaging scans and other tests that can help pinpoint reversible causes of memory loss and dementia-like symptoms.

You might be referred to a specialist in diagnosing dementia or memory conditions, such as a neurologist, psychiatrist, psychologist or geriatrician.