Getting the results of my testing to confirm Mild cognitive impairment diagnosis

This past April, I saw a new neurologist and he asked me if I ever had any neuropsychological evaluation and I said no. He asked me if I would like to get that testing done. He explained that he felt that it would give some insight as to what I'm dealing with, although he did tell me that he thought that I was dealing with MCI. I agreed to have the testing done.

Last month, I spent almost four hours completing the neuropsychological evaluation. Yesterday, I had an appointment to hear the results. The neuropsychologist said that one way to tell how a patient is doing and what the correct diagnosis is, was to follow their progress over time. It has been a little more than nine years since my first and second diagnosis, so there has been a lot of time that has gone by. The neuropsychologist said that I need to be concerned about my memory, but that he felt that at this time and previously that it probably is not dementia! Mild Cognitive Impairment was the correct diagnosis.

He felt that if the correct diagnosis was EOAD, then I certainly should have progressed. I am still able to work and function fairly well, but he said that some things did show up in the testing. He said that the testing showed that I had problems with attention, verbal and visual memory. I told him that I felt that I have progressed with my lack of comprehension. I know that they did a little testing on this. He said that he felt that EOAD was not the correct diagnosis, but MCI was. He said that I should probably follow-up in eight months to see how I'm doing and perhaps they might even go deeper into testing my comprehension. The doctor said that he would be typing up a report on this testing and send it to my neurologist. He said that I still need to be concerned about my memory, but that he felt that at this time and previously that it probably is not dementia! I told him that I had an appointment with my neurologist to follow-up on the results of this testing.

The results showed that MCI is the correct diagnosis. In thinking about the weeks between testing and the results, I felt that there could have been three possible conclusions. The doctor could have said that I have a form of dementia, but it is progressing very slowly or that I have MCI, or perhaps there was another possible diagnosis. Perhaps my test results could have showed that they didn't tell a complete story and that there were still questions about what I was dealing with.

For me, this really doesn’t change anything for me because I am still living with a memory impairment. Thankfully, it isn't as serious as it could be. It doesn’t really matter what it is called. I’m more focused on figuring out ways to navigate this journey of memory impairment. I try to live my life and not worry about things that I have no control of. These test results just removed the question of what I’m dealing with. I will still continue to do things to keep my brain active and engaged.

I will continue to see my neurologist every six to twelve months and continue taking the medicine that he has prescribed for me. I feel that living my life with a positive attitude is key to me functioning at my best. I also make sure that I don't have a lot of stress because stress just increases my symptoms.

Back in 2005 after my diagnosis was changed from Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease to mild cognitive impairment, my primary care doctor thought that diagnosis was incorrect. He strongly believed that I had EOAD. Hopefully, this will put any doubts to rest.

I will continue to make adjustments in my life, as needed to help me function at my best. I continue to have a positive attitude and I am still enjoying my life! Now my goal is to educate other people about what it is like to live with a memory impairment.