Memory loss doesn’t always mean Alzheimer’s

Brain imaging helps reveal the real cause behind cognitive decline

MRI or CT scans show where brain changes occur and whether it’s due to Alzheimer’s, depression, tumor or another condition

In Alzheimer’s, the hippocampus and temporal lobes shrink first but similar changes can also appear in other diseases

Rapid or unexplained memory loss

When to get brain imaging:

 Sudden behavioral changes

Atypical or fast-progressing symptoms

Expert image review helps doctors tell whether it’s Alzheimer’s or something else like infection, depression, or vascular disease