Baseline and Serial Monitoring

The results of your first evaluation will be used as a baseline, or benchmark, to which all future evaluations will be compared. Ideally, a baseline will be established prior to the onset of symptoms, so before you notice a change in your day-to-day thinking skills. It is especially vital for those with a family history of dementia or Alzheimer`s disease to establish a baseline early as we know there is a strong genetic component to these disorders.

 If you have already noticed a change in your daily thinking abilities, a baseline should be established as soon as possible. For those who have been experiencing change for some time, a baseline is still vital to start tracking the progression of symptoms.

 As dementia is progressive in nature, repeated, or serial monitoring is the ideal way to track brain function over time. The frequency of monitoring depends on the stage of disease and individual needs. For example, those with a family history of dementia, may wish to participate in a Comprehensive Assessment to establish a baseline, but then may not require follow-up testing for several years, until they notice some change in their thinking skills. Conversely, an individual who has already experiencing change or decline in their abilities may require yearly monitoring to follow the course of their disease.

Early screening

Just as you would have a mammogram or prostate exam once you reach a certain age, you should also have a screening conducted on your brain. Currently, it is estimated that 1 in 11 Canadians over the age of 65 are diagnosed with dementia. Research suggests that those with dementia begin to demonstrate changes and decline in their thinking skills by the age of 45. As mentioned above, a baseline evaluation is ideally conducted prior to changes in thinking skills. Once this initial information is collected, it will be available for later use to directly compare to future assessments. Detailed neuropsychological assessment has been shown to reveal mild cognitive difficulties up to eight years before before an individual meets criteria for dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease. While there is currently no cure for dementia, there are treatments available that can slow the progression of symptoms. Early screening and diagnosis can educate the individual and their families on changes to their lifestyle that may delay the disease process.