family members hesitate to take their loved one to a doctor, fearing that the diagnosis will in fact turn out to be Alzheimer’s

More than five million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's disease. It takes an average of 30 months from the time family members notice the first symptoms of dementia until the person is diagnosed with Alzheimer's. There are several reasons for this, but one of the principal ones is that family members hesitate to take their loved one to a doctor, fearing that the diagnosis will in fact turn out to be Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's is, above all, an insidious illness. It begins with very mild symptoms — things we all do from time to time, such as forgetting to turn off the stove, temporarily forgetting an acquaintance's name, or misplacing the car keys. But for the person with dementia, these events will become more frequent, and with time more serious symptoms will appear.

The illness sometimes progresses so slowly that friends and family members can be in total denial. They may try to explain away the symptoms, push them to the back of their minds, or make excuses for the person. Loved ones can remain in denial for months or even years. (For more information on denial see the article, "Overcoming Denial When a Loved One Shows Signs of Alzheimer's.")

Here are some questions to consider when a loved one is showing signs of dementia.

1. How can you convince a person with symptoms of dementia to go to a doctor?

In the early stages of the illness the person with dementia is often in denial as well. He or she realizes something is wrong and tries to understand it in any way possible that doesn't involve the words 'Alzheimer's' or 'dementia.' At this stage many people refuse to discuss their symptoms with their doctor.

2. How Do Physicians Make the Diagnosis?

Clinicians can now diagnose Alzheimer's disease with up to 90 percent accuracy, although it can only be definitely confirmed by an autopsy, during which pathologists look for the disease's characteristic plaques and tangles in brain tissue.

Clinicians can diagnose "probable" Alzheimer's disease by taking a complete medical history and conducting lab tests, a physical exam, brain scans and neuro-psychological tests that gauge memory, attention, language skills and problem-solving abilities. Interviewing a close friend or family member is also critical to making the diagnosis.

3. Should the patient be told about the diagnosis?

This can be a difficult ethical issue. Telling or not telling the patient about the diagnosis is a personal decision. In most instances it's better to let people know. They have a right to know. This helps them understand what's going on and work to come to terms with it. It also allows them to participate in medical, legal and financial decisions that will have to be made."

4. How should family members and friends be informed of the diagnosis?

When a person is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, it's important to inform close friends and family members. One reason is that doing so will help others be more understanding and compassionate about the person's sometimes annoying symptoms.

When disclosing the information it's important to be honest about the disease. You can use this opportunity to provide them some details about the illness per se. You should also ask for their support going forward. The Alzheimer's Foundation website has a wealth of advice about how to inform family, friends and neighbors of the diagnosis.

There are special considerations when telling a child that a grandparent or other person to whom they are close has Alzheimer's. For more information about that see the article, "Grandma Has Alzheimer's."

No one wants to have a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer's. There's nothing more painful and chilling than learning your loved one has dementia, but when the person is exhibiting symptoms of the illness, an evaluation has to be conducted — and the sooner the better.