Memory Cafe

First Choice Neurology’s Memory Cafe is a virtual community for caregivers, family members, and those living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Our virtual Memory Cafe offers educational materials, videos, support groups, a list of Neurologists, a virtual library, clinical trials, and other resources for Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Alzheimer's Association International 2026 Conference Updates

The Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) is the largest international meeting dedicated to advancing dementia science and clinical practice. Each year, AAIC convenes researchers, clinicians, and dementia professionals from all career stages to share breaking research discoveries and clinical practice education that will lead to improvements in diagnosis, risk reduction, and treatments for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. From basic science to dementia care, every aspect of the field’s growing knowledge of dementia is incorporated into this world-class conference.

Dr. Victor Faradji is attending the conference and will be providing daily video updates from AAIC highlights.

What is Dementia?

Dementia is a loss of cognitive function associated with many neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease, Lewy Body Dementia, Huntington's Disease, and Traumatic Brain Injury. People with dementia may experience difficulties with short-term memory, which can affect their ability to keep track of everyday items, such as their keys or wallet, pay bills, grocery shop, or clean the house. While it is not a normal part of aging, it mainly affects older people.

An estimated 50 million people are living with dementia worldwide. There are many causes, and some are reversible while others are progressive. The earlier it is diagnosed, the more it can improve your quality of life. Some conditions can be very progressive. This means you might not notice symptoms right away, as they start slowly and gradually worsen. It may be hard to notice the difference between old age memory loss and dementia.

Dementia is not a disease. It is a term that describes symptoms associated with declining memory. It is also a term used when a person's thinking skills are severe enough to reduce the ability to perform everyday activities. Being diagnosed with dementia is often a frightening experience.

What is Alzheimer's Disease (AD)?

Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disease. Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory loss and cognitive abilities. Researchers believe that Alzheimer’s disease begins 20 years or more before you notice symptoms. Symptoms occur because nerve cells (neurons) in parts of the brain have been damaged or destroyed. Symptoms usually develop slowly and worsen over time, interfering with an individual’s ability to perform everyday activities.

In the early stages, memory loss is mild, and the individual is said to have dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease, or Alzheimer’s dementia. In the late stages of Alzheimer’s, neurons in parts of the brain that enable a person to carry out basic bodily functions are affected. Individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation, walk, or swallow. The cause may include a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.

How Is Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosed?

There is no single test that can definitively diagnose Alzheimer's disease. Instead, neurologists use a combination of medical history, cognitive assessments, neurological examinations, laboratory testing, and advanced imaging to determine the cause of memory loss and other cognitive changes.

Common diagnostic tools include:

Cognitive and Neurological Evaluation:
A neurologist will assess memory, attention, language, reasoning, and problem-solving abilities using validated screening tools such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). A comprehensive neurological examination is also performed to evaluate balance, reflexes, coordination, vision, and other brain functions while helping rule out other neurological conditions.

Blood Biomarker Testing:
New advances in blood testing have made it possible to detect biomarkers associated with Alzheimer's disease. Tests measuring proteins such as plasma p-tau217, p-tau181, and beta-amyloid can help identify Alzheimer 's-related changes in the brain. Plasma p-tau217 is currently considered one of the most accurate blood biomarkers for detecting Alzheimer's pathology, often identifying disease-related changes years before symptoms become noticeable. p-tau181 is also a valuable marker that helps support the diagnosis and monitor disease progression.

Brain Imaging:
MRI and CT scans are commonly used to look for other possible causes of cognitive symptoms, such as stroke, brain tumors, or normal pressure hydrocephalus. When Alzheimer's disease is suspected, specialized PET imaging or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing may be recommended to detect amyloid plaques and tau tangles—the hallmark changes associated with the disease.

Laboratory Testing:
Routine blood work helps rule out other medical conditions that can contribute to memory loss or cognitive impairment, including thyroid disorders, vitamin B12 deficiency, infections, electrolyte imbalances, and other treatable health issues.

What is Huntington's Disease?

Huntington's disease is a progressive brain disorder caused by a single defective gene on chromosome 4. The defective gene codes for the blueprint for a protein called huntingtin. Defective huntingtin protein leads to brain changes that cause abnormal involuntary movements, a severe decline in thinking and reasoning skills, and irritability, depression, and other mood changes.

Symptoms of Huntington's disease usually develop between the ages of 30 and 50, but they can appear as early as age 2 or as late as 80. Symptoms of Huntington's are an uncontrolled movement of the arms, legs, head, face, and upper body. Huntington's disease also causes a decline in thinking and reasoning skills, including memory, concentration, judgment, and the ability to plan and organize.

Huntington's disease brain changes lead to alterations in mood, especially depression, anxiety, and uncharacteristic anger and irritability. Another common symptom is obsessive-compulsive behavior, leading a person to repeat the same question or activity over and over.