Hello,
My 81 Year old father had a shunt implanted in his brain to drain cerebral fluid from his ventricles to his abdomen. This was done because he was initially diagnosed with NPH as he had the triad of symptoms (Shuffling feet while walking - He uses a walker, Urinary Incontinence, and dementia).
This procedures was done 1 1/2 years ago and while he had a little bit of improvement after the shunt was installed he still has dementia and it appears to be getting worse. We went to a neurologist who has now diagnosed him with Alzheimer's disease based on a recent EEG and his inability to answer a series of questions that test his cognitive abilities.
I asked the neurologist about having a PET scan to check Amyloid Plaque levels and Tau Tangles as these appear to be definite indicators of Alzheimer's disease from what I have read. The neurologist stated that these PET scans are very expensive and that the results of these scans would not change the treatment plan which is to put my father on medicine in an attempt to slow the progression of the Alzheimer's disease. I am not so sure of Alzheimer's being the correct diagnosis without having the PET scans done.
Are there any definitive tests that can be performed that will absolutely diagnose Alzheimer's? Just want to be sure we are getting the correct diagnosis.
Any advice/comments would be greatly appreciated.
Since you haven't received any replies you should consider posting on alzconnected.org which is active.
Perhaps contact Hydrocephalus Associattion: Info@hydroassoc.org or www.hydroassoc.org/cause-view/call-us/
Having both NPH and Alzheimer's is possible but also check if the shunt is malfunctioning or can be optimized.
Having both NPH and Alzheimer's is possible but also check if the shunt is malfunctioning or can be optimized.