Dr. Nancy
Hoffman PsyD
Geriatric
Neuropsychological
Assessment Services
Hoffman PsyD
Geriatric
Neuropsychological
Assessment Services
415.339.8616
Dementia can easily go unrecognized in primary care. However, a neuropsychologist can reliably establish whether or not your forgetfulness
or behavioral changes are the result of normal aging or dementia.
or behavioral changes are the result of normal aging or dementia.
Do you know the difference between
normal aging and memory loss?
If you are concerned about changes in your ability to think,
to remember, or to concentrate, ask yourself the following questions:
1. Memory loss. Forgetting recently learned information is one of the most common early signs of Alzheimer's disease. Do you forget things more often and find yourself unable to recall the information later?
2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks. Do you have difficulty planning or completing everyday tasks? Do you lose track of the steps involved in preparing a meal, placing a telephone call or playing a game?
3. Problems with language. Do you often forget simple words or substitute unusual words? Is your speech or writing hard to understand? People with dementia may be unable to find the toothbrush, for example, and instead
ask for "that thing for my mouth.”
4. Disorientation to time and place. Do you ever get lost in your own neighborhood, forgetting where you are and how you got there? Have you ever been unable to find your way back home?
5. Poor or decreased judgment. Has anyone told you lately that you dress inappropriately, wearing several layers on a warm day or little clothing in the cold? Do you ever show poor judgment, like giving away large sums of money to telemarketers?
6. Problems with abstract thinking. Do you ever have unusual difficulty performing complex mental tasks, like forgetting what numbers are for and how they should be used?
7. Misplacing things. Do you put things in unusual places: an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl?
8. Changes in mood or behavior. Do you experience rapid mood swings – from calm to tears to anger – for no apparent reason?
9. Changes in personality. The personalities of people with dementia can change dramatically. Have you become extremely confused, suspicious, fearful or dependent on a family member?
10. Loss of initiative. Have you become very passive, sitting in front of the TV for hours, sleeping more than usual? Have you lost interest in your usual activities?
2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks. Do you have difficulty planning or completing everyday tasks? Do you lose track of the steps involved in preparing a meal, placing a telephone call or playing a game?
3. Problems with language. Do you often forget simple words or substitute unusual words? Is your speech or writing hard to understand? People with dementia may be unable to find the toothbrush, for example, and instead
ask for "that thing for my mouth.”
4. Disorientation to time and place. Do you ever get lost in your own neighborhood, forgetting where you are and how you got there? Have you ever been unable to find your way back home?
5. Poor or decreased judgment. Has anyone told you lately that you dress inappropriately, wearing several layers on a warm day or little clothing in the cold? Do you ever show poor judgment, like giving away large sums of money to telemarketers?
6. Problems with abstract thinking. Do you ever have unusual difficulty performing complex mental tasks, like forgetting what numbers are for and how they should be used?
7. Misplacing things. Do you put things in unusual places: an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl?
8. Changes in mood or behavior. Do you experience rapid mood swings – from calm to tears to anger – for no apparent reason?
9. Changes in personality. The personalities of people with dementia can change dramatically. Have you become extremely confused, suspicious, fearful or dependent on a family member?
10. Loss of initiative. Have you become very passive, sitting in front of the TV for hours, sleeping more than usual? Have you lost interest in your usual activities?
Adapted from:
“Do you know the 10 Warning Signs of Dementia?”
The Alzheimer’s Association website: www.alz.org
If you answered yes to one or more of these questions and you are concerned about changes in your memory or your behavior, call me at 415.339.8616
to discuss whether or not a neuropsychological assessment
might be an appropriate way to
address your concerns.
An early diagnosis of dementia means you can take advantage of medical treatment that might slow the progression of the disease. It also
allows you to plan for the future while you still have
the capacity to make important decisions about your life.
I am a psychologist with specialized training in the neuropsychological assessment of older adults. My services include the
comprehensive evaluation and diagnosis of neurological disorders such as:
* Dementia, including:
Alzheimer’s Disease
Frontotemporal Dementia
Lewy Body Dementia
Vascular Dementia
Mild Cognitive Impairment
* Memory Loss
* Sleep Apnea
* Huntington’s Disease
* Parkinson’s Disease
* Stroke
* Brain Injuries (Traumatic Brain
Injury and Mild Traumatic
Brain Injury)
* ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder)
* Capacity Evaluations
Alzheimer’s Disease
Frontotemporal Dementia
Lewy Body Dementia
Vascular Dementia
Mild Cognitive Impairment
* Memory Loss
* Sleep Apnea
* Huntington’s Disease
* Parkinson’s Disease
* Stroke
* Brain Injuries (Traumatic Brain
Injury and Mild Traumatic
Brain Injury)
* ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder)
* Capacity Evaluations
My office is conveniently located in San Rafael close to Highway 101
and public transportation, allowing me to see patients from
Marin, San Francisco, and Sonoma County.
To find out more about recent developments in the diagnosis and management of dementia, visit my blog at http://allaboutdementia.blogspot.com
1330 Lincoln Avenue
The Dimensions of the Human Head
by Leonardo daVinci
by Leonardo daVinci
