Answers from Dr. Fotuhi

Can you differentiate age related memory loss from dementia or Alzheimer’s?

Patients with age-related cognitive decline have minor memory lapses such as forgetting their keys or names of people they have not seen for a while. In contrast, patients with Alzheimer’s type dementia have major memory issues; for example, they may forget names of their children. They may also have other cognitive deficits such as difficulty handling money, getting lost while in familiar areas, or becoming confused with dates and events.

The very earliest hint of Alzheimer’s disease may begin with the usual forgetfulness, such as losing your keys, but such patients often decline rapidly within several months or a couple of years. People with normal age-related memory lapses decline very slowly, over 5-10 years, and remain fully functional way into their 80s. If you have concerns, please see your doctor or a neurologist familiar with these issues. If you live in Baltimore-Washington area, please make an appointment to see one of our neurologists.

What is brain mapping?

Brain mapping is a fairly new way of evaluating brain activity in patients with various neurological conditions. In a fashion similar to how an EKG recording provides information about the level of physiological activity and rhythm in a patient’s heart, brain mapping provides information about level of physiological activity and rhythm in a patient’s brain. This activity is recorded with small metal sensors placed on the skull. The tiny EEG sensors are similar to EKG leads placed on a patient’s chest. Brain mapping EEG from a patient is often compared to a “normative library” with information from hundreds or thousands of normal individuals. The EEG pattern in brain mapping is quite helpful in the diagnosis of a variety of conditions in which brain MRI and other routine test are normal, such as in Attention Deficit Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or Concussion.