Questions to Ask the Doctor
Tick the questions you want to ask, and bring this sheet and a list of all your medicines. Bring a family member or friend to take notes.
About the diagnosis
- What do you think is causing these memory or thinking changes?
- Could anything else be causing them (medicines, vitamin B12, thyroid, depression, sleep, hearing)?
- What tests do I need, and what will they tell us?
- Should I see a specialist, such as a neurologist, geriatrician, or memory clinic?
- What stage is this, and what changes should we expect?
About treatment
- What treatments or medicines might help? What are the side effects?
- Am I a candidate for newer Alzheimer's treatments, and what monitoring do they need?
- Should any of my current medicines be changed or stopped?
- Are there clinical trials I could join?
About daily life and safety
- Is it safe for me to keep driving, cooking, or managing money?
- What can I do now (exercise, sleep, diet, hearing, social contact) to help?
- What support is available for my family or caregiver?
- Who should we call with questions between visits?
- When should we come back, and what should we watch for?
Notes:
Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline: 800-272-3900
Adapted from guidance by the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association.
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