---
title: "Diagnosing Dementia with New Technology: A Step-by-Step Guide"
description: How Neurotrack fits into a diagnostic workflow for dementia, from an initial cognitive screening to clinical workup, using DSM-5 criteria as a framework.
image: https://neurotrack.com/hubfs/A%20female%20doctor%20talks%20to%20an%20older%20couple%20in%20her%20well%20appointed%20office%20copy.jpg
---

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 Diagnosis

# Diagnosing Dementia with New Technology: A Step-by-Step Guide

 Diagnosing dementia can feel like navigating a maze—especially in the early stages, when signs of cognitive decline may be subtle or easily mistaken for normal aging. Fortunately, clinical guidelines have evolved to offer greater clarity, and tools like Neurotrack’s cognitive screening system are helping streamline the process for clinicians. In this post, we’ll walk you through how dementia is typically diagnosed with the help of new technology, from initial screening to clinical workup, using the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria as a framework.

Neurotrack Team Published on April 11, 2025 2 min read

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Diagnosing dementia can feel like navigating a maze—especially in the early stages, when signs of cognitive decline may be subtle or easily mistaken for normal aging. Fortunately, clinical guidelines have evolved to offer greater clarity, and tools like Neurotrack’s cognitive screening system are helping streamline the process for clinicians. In this post, we’ll walk you through how dementia is typically diagnosed with the help of new technology, from initial screening to clinical workup, using the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria as a framework.

---

#### Step 1: Screen Patients Early with a Brief Digital Exam

**Why start here?**  
Early detection is key. Neurotrack’s technology allows clinicians to screen patients quickly and effectively—either at home or in the office. It begins with a 3-minute test and unlocks additional tasks only where concern is warranted. These exams can completed on any device and are designed to align with **DSM-5 criteria for neurocognitive disorders**.

**What’s included in the report?**  
Once testing is complete, the tool generates a report summarizing the results in pertinent cognitive domains, in accordance with DSM-5 guidelines.    
Each report features:

- A summary of cognitive performance compared to peers of similar age, sex, and educational background
- Possible clinical indications
- Recommended next steps

This report serves as a powerful jumping-off point for further evaluation when cognitive impairment is detected.

---

#### Step 2: Conduct a Clinical Workup for Dementia When Indicated

If the screening raises concerns, the next step is a **clinical workup**. According to guidelines from the DSM-5, Medicare, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the American Academy of Neurology, the goals of this workup are to:

1. **Rule out other possible causes** of cognitive symptoms (such as depression, overmedication, infection, or sleep apnea)
2. **Determine the severity and functional impact** of any cognitive decline

**Key steps include:**

- Reviewing medical records and patient history
- Screening for psychiatric symptoms and assessing functional impairment with a reliable informant (such as a caregiver)
- Evaluating substance use and medication side effects
- Administering additional questionnaires and tests
- Ordering labs or brain imaging when appropriate

---

#### Step 3: Make a Diagnosis Using DSM-5 Criteria

The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition) categorizes cognitive impairment into two major types:

#### **Mild Neurocognitive Disorder**

- *Modest* cognitive decline in one or more cognitive domains
- Daily functioning mostly preserved (especially instrumental activities of daily living)
- Not attributable to delirium or another mental disorder

#### **Major Neurocognitive Disorder**

- *Significant* decline in one or more cognitive domains
- Interference with basic activities of daily living
- Also not due to delirium or another mental disorder

**Diagnosis must be supported by:**

- Cognitive testing (e.g., Neurotrack)
- Observations from a trusted informant
- Clinical judgment regarding changes in function and cognition over time

---

#### What’s New in the DSM-5?

If you were trained under DSM-IV, you might notice several important updates in DSM-5:

- **Mild Neurocognitive Disorder** was introduced to better recognize early-stage disease
- **Memory loss is no longer the defining symptom**—this recognizes that other domains, for example, complex attention or executive function, are often affected first
- **Objective cognitive assessment** tools are now emphasized in making a diagnosis (so FDA-registered digital tests like Neurotrack that provide clinically-trusted, instant results without the variability of subjective scoring are ideal)
- The DSM-5 offers greater specificity in identifying behaviors and syndromes to support differential diagnosis

---

#### Final Thoughts: A Smarter, More Informed Path to Diagnosis

With digital tools like Neurotrack and the structured guidance of the DSM-5, clinicians now have a clearer, more objective way to assess cognitive function. This approach supports earlier detection and timely diagnosis, getting patients the care and support they require, which in turn improves outcomes.

---

*Want to learn more about how digital cognitive assessments can support your practice? *[Contact us](https://neurotrack.com/contact-us)* to explore Neurotrack’s Cognitive Screening System today.*

[![We Spent Years Telling You About Our Screener. It’s Time We Told You the Rest.](https://neurotrack.com/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(1).png)

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## We Spent Years Telling You About Our Screener. It’s Time We Told You the Rest.

](https://neurotrack.com/blog/we-spent-years-telling-you-about-our-screener.-its-time-we-told-you-the-rest)

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