Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that causes memory loss and other cognitive symptoms that worsen over time. Virginia Mason Franciscan Health offers comprehensive services, including an accurate diagnosis, personalized Alzheimer’s treatments and support services. We help you live an excellent quality of life on your terms.

We get to the source of your symptoms using a coordinated, efficient approach. Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is one of the few programs in the region with a behavioral neurologist. This doctor specializes in diagnosing, treating and managing Alzheimer’s. They work alongside neuropsychologists to diagnose Alzheimer’s in fewer visits. Explore our memory wellness services.

Risk factors that increase the likelihood of an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis include: 

• Age: You are more likely to have this condition if you are 65 or older.
• Family history: Having a parent or sibling with Alzheimer’s increases your risk.
• Lifestyle: Habits such as poor sleep, substance misuse and inactivity negatively impact brain health.
• Other medical issues: Conditions that raise your risk include high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and head trauma.

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include: 

• Behavioral issues, such as aggression, hoarding, wandering, agitation and restlessness
• Decreased short-term memory, difficulty remembering recent conversations or trouble learning new things 
• Difficulty completing daily tasks, like bathing or getting dressed
• Forgetting important dates or not knowing what year it is
• Mood swings
• Poor judgment that puts your safety and well-being at risk
• Placing things in odd places or losing them altogether
• Repeating questions and other signs of not absorbing new information

The two essential components of an Alzheimer’s disease evaluation are assessments from our:

• Behavioral neurologist: A behavioral neurologist asks about your medical history and guides you through assessments of memory, problem-solving, communication and visual and spatial skills.
• Neuropsychologist: A neuropsychologist specializes in assessing the specific ways in which neurological disorders impact brain function.

These assessments are optional but lead to a more precise diagnosis. They include: 

• Blood tests: These tests can rule out other possible causes for your symptoms, such as infection, hormonal imbalances and vitamin deficiencies.
• Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) scan: This imaging study assesses how different areas of the brain use energy.  
• Lumbar puncture (spinal tap): This procedure involves taking a sample of fluid surrounding the spinal cord and checking for amyloid or tau proteins.
• Brain MRI: This scan shows brain changes that are consistent with Alzheimer’s.

We explain your options and together develop a plan that meets your needs. Your personalized Alzheimer's treatment plan may include: 

• Medications: Some drugs improve memory and behavioral symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. Others boost brain health in people with more severe disease. 
• Neurorehabilitation: Physical, occupational and speech therapists guide you through activities that optimize your safety and independence. 
• Education and support: We provide information about the benefits of exercise, nutrition and cognitive activity. We also offer memory wellness groups supported by members of our care team.     
• Referrals: We may refer you to other specialists who treat conditions common in people with Alzheimer’s. These include sleep medicine doctors, cardiologists, psychiatrists or other doctors.

At your appointment, specialists take time to explain your diagnosis and address all your concerns. For additional information, read our memory disorder FAQs.

Our specialists care for patients across the Puget Sound area and beyond. Find a dementia specialist near you.