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While memory problems in the elderly are often caused by Alzheimer鈥檚, an entirely different diagnosis may be聽to blame.

鈥淭here are multiple treatable problems that lead to memory loss,鈥� said聽Dr聽David Merrill, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at . 鈥淯nderstanding these causes leads to better cognitive health because treatment for Alzheimer鈥檚 is different from other causes of cognitive decline.鈥�

For example, three treatable conditions that can mimic Alzheimer鈥檚 disease symptoms are:

1)听贬测辫别谤迟别苍蝉颈辞苍. High blood pressure can cause memory loss and a slowdown in information processing, resulting in behaviour that may resemble Alzheimer鈥檚 disease. Symptoms may improve with effective treatment of hypertension, including changes in lifestyle and medications.

2)聽Substance abuse. Heavy alcohol use can cause memory loss, which can be mistaken for Alzheimer鈥檚 disease. Cognition often improves when the person stops using alcohol.

3)聽Psychiatric disorders. Bipolar disorder and depression, for example, can cause memory loss. Adjustment to the patient鈥檚 medications and an increase in physical activity may lessen these symptoms.

UCLA researchers are testing a new method to identify such problems.

In a recent, unpublished study of 22 patients at聽,聽participants had MRI scans, and scientists used a software program designed to measure the volume of multiple brain regions and computerised neuropsychological tests to evaluate the participants鈥� brains.

Only five of the people with memory loss showed brain shrinkage patterns characteristic of Alzheimer鈥檚 disease. The remaining cases were a combination of causes from vascular disease, depression, head trauma and substance abuse.

The results suggest that brain measurements could be used to rule out Alzheimer鈥檚 and guide treatment, but the methods need to be studied further with more people.

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