Psychiatrists and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) are medical professionals who can diagnose dementia.
Psychiatric providers are skilled in diagnosing dementia and distinguishing it from other mental health conditions like depression. They may coordinate further diagnosis and care with your primary care provider and other specialists, often including neurologists.
These providers can provide support through early intervention, medication management, and continuing education on dementia for you and your family.
People may forget things occasionally as they age. For example, sometimes people may misplace house keys, miss a credit card payment, or forget words while in conversation. These kinds of memory lapses are usually normal for older adults.
In some cases these kinds of lapses can be a sign of a neurocognitive disorder like dementia. If you’re an older adult experiencing memory difficulties, you might wonder who to turn to for support. Psychiatrists are one type of provider you can go to if you have concerns about memory loss.
If you’ve never seen a psychiatric provider, it might feel intimidating. But know that these providers are available to support you through this process. Here’s what you need to know about dementia and how a psychiatrist can help you.
When to see a psychiatrist for dementia
Dementia is different than just a memory blip. And if you have memory loss, the cause isn’t always dementia.
But if you notice yourself or your loved one doing one or some of the following things, it may be time to talk with a medical provider:
Repeating questions
Getting lost on the way to familiar destinations
Having trouble with things like recipes or directions
Being confused about time, people, or places
Neglecting personal hygiene
Engaging in impulsive or aggressive behavior
Experiencing personality changes
Experiencing poor motor skills
Noticing these signs early is important. Dementia doesn’t happen all at once, so interventions like lifestyle changes or medication can help slow its progression. Getting a proper diagnosis early on also gives your loved ones more time to learn about dementia, how it affects you, and how to best emotionally prepare themselves.
But even with early detection, dementia treatment and support can still be delayed. Some people may be resistant to diagnosis due to shame or fear of losing their independence. It’s best to seek help early on so you can best manage living with dementia.
Psychiatrists and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) often diagnose and care for people with dementia. They can also prescribe medications that can help slow the progression of dementia, or address some of the mental health challenges that commonly occur with dementia.
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What are the different types of dementia?
Dementia is a broad term that covers several different cognitive disorders. The following are types of dementia you could be diagnosed with:
Alzheimer’s disease: Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. Proteins called plaques and tangles build up in the brain, which causes brain cells to die over time and the brain to become smaller.
Lewy body dementia: Lewy bodies are protein deposits that form in the brain’s nerve cells. They can affect thinking, memory, and motor skills. Lewy body dementia can also cause visual hallucinations. It’s the second most common type of dementia.
Frontotemporal dementia: This type of dementia causes nerve cell loss in the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes. Frontotemporal dementia can impact someone’s personality, behavior, movement, language skills, and thinking.
Vascular dementia: Blood flow in the brain is reduced or blocked with vascular dementia. This takes oxygen from the brain, which can cause slowed thinking and problems with problem-solving and focus.
Mixed dementia: Mixed dementia happens when someone experiences brain changes associated with more than one kind of dementia.
Dementia can also occur with other diseases, like Huntington’s disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and Parkinson’s disease. It’s important to get the right diagnosis, since this can change treatment and management options.
Getting ready for a dementia evaluation
Your primary care doctor can diagnose dementia. But they may also refer you to a psychiatric provider or neurologist for a more specific diagnosis and to rule out other possible diagnoses.
Your doctor might set you up with a geriatric psychiatrist, a psychiatric provider who focuses on the medical needs of people aged 65 and older. To prepare for the psychiatric evaluation, bring any medication you currently take. This can help your provider get a fuller picture of your health, and make sure that any cognitive effects of your current regimen are considered in the evaluation.
Also try to keep a log of changes you’ve noticed, like memory issues or any uncharacteristic mood swings. If you’re comfortable, it can help to ask loved ones to write down any changes they’ve seen too.
What happens during a psychiatric evaluation for dementia
There’s no one test to diagnose dementia. Your psychiatric provider might ask you questions or administer brief tests to check your memory and problem-solving skills. However, on its own, this can’t be used to determine if you have dementia.
Genetic history is also important. Your psychiatric provider might ask if dementia runs in your family. Aside from this, they might also ask you questions about any changes you’ve experienced around your memory and thinking.
They’ll also want to rule out depression. Depression can also cause cognitive loss, and it can be hard to tell the difference between the two. Your psychiatric provider may ask you if you’ve lost interest in activities you usually enjoy, if you feel hopeless or worthless, and how your sleep is. When it comes to mental decline, this loss comes on more gradually in dementia and faster with depression.
Moving forward after a dementia diagnosis
There’s no right way to come to terms with your dementia diagnosis. Allow yourself to feel whatever emotions come up. It can help to let your loved ones be there for you, as dementia is life-changing.
A psychiatric provider can also help you adjust. They can talk you through what your specific type of dementia involves and how it might impact your everyday life. They can also help you understand what role medications might play to delay the progression of symptoms or improve function for a time. These changes can feel overwhelming. But know that an early diagnosis gives you an opportunity to learn how to manage your dementia and create more memories with your loved ones.
Psychiatric providers, especially geriatric psychiatrists, can play an important part in sorting through cognitive changes you may be experiencing. They can help you get an accurate diagnosis and the right kind of support for the emotional, social, and cognitive effects of dementia.
Stephanie J Reed, MSW, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Clinical reviewer
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Dementia can be difficult to diagnose, but some psychiatrists and PMHNPs are experts in recognizing the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral changes that occur with dementia. They can diagnose dementia, provide support for the journey ahead, and collaborate with other healthcare providers on your care team.
At Rula, we’re committed to delivering a comprehensive behavioral health experience that helps people feel seen and understood so they can get back to feeling their best.
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Siobhan Neela-Stock
Siobhan Neela-Stock is a writer and journalist who focuses on health, particularly mental health. She earned her master's in journalism from Northwestern University in 2018 and worked at Mashable for over two years where she focused on social good reporting.
Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, SELF, Fortune, Verywell Health, among other publications. Neela-Stock also teaches writing and journalism at several universities.
She enjoys traveling, dancing, playing dodgeball, and spending time with her loved ones.
Stephanie J Reed, MSW, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Stephanie started her career in mental health as a clinical social worker in 1997. She’s been practicing as a psychiatric nurse practitioner since 2020. She’s worked in many settings, including in labor and delivery as an RN, in child protection, in community mental health, and in an urban clinic affiliated with the Indian Health Service.
Her passion for mental health comes from a desire to provide the kind of care and education for people that she wishes had been available to her family. Good mental healthcare can be transformative for people and families, and it’s work that she’s very proud to be part of.
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