🎵 “Doctor! Doctor!” – What to Ask and What to Expect(Thompson Twins)

I loved the 80s and 90s.

Honestly?

Best time of my life.

Carefree.

No phones recording everything.

No social media stealing your time.

Home before the streetlights came on… and I was in shape 😄

Me 1989

And the best part?

👉 The music.

Rock. Rap. Alternative.

Even “new country” (hello Garth Brooks).

🧠 And Then… Something Feels Off

Now you’re here.

You’ve noticed signs.Your spouse—or you—know something isn’t right.

But no one is quite sure what it is yet.

So…

👉 You go to the doctor.

And suddenly you’re asking:

“What tests do we need?”

“How do we actually get a diagnosis?”

🧪 Let’s Break It Down (What You’ll Likely Need)

There is no one test.

👉 It’s a combination.

And if you’re trying to get an official diagnosis (especially for disability), you’ll typically need:

• Cognitive testing

• Brain imaging

• Medical evaluation

• Often a PET scan + neuropsych evaluation

🧠 Cognitive & Neuropsychological Testing (Start Here)

These test:

• Memory

• Language

• Attention

• Problem-solving

👉 Who to see:

• Neurologist

• Neuropsychologist (specializing in brain disorders)

Common Tests You’ll Hear About:

• MMSE (Mini-Mental State Exam)

  
  

  Basic screening for memory, orientation, etc.

• MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment)

  
  

  👉 More sensitive (especially for early stages)

• Mini-Cog

  
  

  Quick 3-minute test + clock drawing

• ACE-R (Addenbrooke’s)

  
  

  Broader cognitive screening

🏥 Medical History & Physical

This is important to:

👉 Rule out other causes(stress, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid, etc.)

🧠 Brain Imaging

MRI or CT Scan

• Looks at brain structure

• Rules out tumors, strokes, etc.

👉 My opinion (IMO):MRI did not give us clear answers for Early Onset.

🧪 Amyloid PET Scan (Big One)

This is the one that gave us clarity.

👉 Detects amyloid plaques in the brain👉 Strong indicator for Alzheimer’s

BUT:

• Expensive: ~$5,000–$8,000

• Insurance often pushes back

👉 Check your coverage first

🩸 Blood Tests (Newer Option)

These are becoming more common.

Cost:👉 ~$300–$500 out of pocket (as of recent years)

Types:

• Amyloid Beta (Aβ)

  
  

  → Indicates plaque buildup

• Phosphorylated Tau (p-tau)

  
  

  → Indicates tangles (another Alzheimer’s marker)

👉 These are promising—but still evolving

🧬 Genetic Testing

Looks for markers like:

• APOE3

• APOE4

👉 Can indicate risk, especially for early onset

⚠️ Note:

• Not always covered by insurance

• Doesn’t always change treatment

💉 Spinal Tap (CSF Test)

I’ve heard:

👉 Most accurate👉 Also the most invasive

This measures:

• Amyloid

• Tau proteins directly from spinal fluid

💰 Let’s Talk Insurance (Because… reality)

This part matters.

✔️ Check Your Policy

Coverage varies A LOT.

✔️ Pre-Authorization

Some tests (especially PET scans) require approval first.

✔️ Call Your Insurance

Ask specifically:

• What’s covered?

• What’s not?

• What’s considered “experimental”?

💡 My Recommendation (From Experience)

If I were starting over:

👉 Start with:

• Blood work

• Cognitive testing

Then move to:

• Neuropsych evaluation

• PET scan (if needed/possible)

⚠️ Real Talk

This process is:

• Confusing

• Expensive

• Emotional

And sometimes slow.

You may feel like:

👉 You know something is wrong

👉 But you can’t “prove” it yet

Keep going. It took us a year to get DX.

🎵 Final Thought

“Doctor, doctor… can’t you see I’m burning, burning…”

That feeling?

👉 That urgency

👉 That need for answers

It’s real.

And you deserve clarity.

💛 My Advice

Advocate.

Ask questions.

Push (when needed).

Because early answers?

👉 Matter more than you think. There are so many new medicenes out that can SLOW

progression and give you more time.

"Doctor, Doctor" by Thompson Twins

This content is for informational purposes only and reflects personal experience. It is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis, testing, and treatment decisions.