Mind Link · Neurology
Dementia & Memory Loss Evaluation in Florida
Getting a real answer is the first step — for the person and for the family.
Medically reviewed by Victor Diaz-Cotrina, MD — Neurologist & Vascular Neurologist
Memory changes have many causes, and not all of them are dementia. Thyroid disease, vitamin deficiency, sleep apnea, depression, and medication side effects can all look similar — and several are reversible. A neurological evaluation sorts out what's happening, names it clearly, and turns that into a plan the whole family can work from.
Neurology at Mind Link is delivered by secure video visit anywhere in Florida — an added service alongside our in-person psychiatric care in Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
Signs worth evaluating
- Repeating questions or stories within the same conversation
- Difficulty managing finances, medications, or appointments
- Getting lost in familiar places
- Word-finding trouble that's worsening over time
- Changes in personality, judgment, or motivation
What the evaluation covers
- Cognitive assessment and detailed history, ideally with a family member present
- Reviewing reversible contributors — thyroid, B12, sleep, mood, medications
- Interpreting brain imaging when it's already been done
- Discussing what the diagnosis does and doesn't mean
- Safety, driving, and long-term care planning
Dementia & Memory Loss Q&A
What is dementia, and how is it different from normal aging?
Occasionally losing a name or misplacing keys is ordinary, especially when tired or distracted. Dementia is a decline in memory or thinking significant enough to interfere with everyday independence — managing money, medications, appointments, or getting places. The distinction isn't whether you forget, it's whether daily life has changed.
What causes dementia?
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause, but not the only one. Vascular dementia follows damage to the brain's blood supply, and Lewy body and frontotemporal dementias present differently, often with movement changes, visual hallucinations, or shifts in personality and behavior before memory. Which one it is matters, because it changes what to expect and which treatments help or harm.
Can memory loss be reversed?
Sometimes, and that's precisely why evaluation is worth doing rather than waiting. Thyroid disease, B12 deficiency, untreated sleep apnea, depression, alcohol, and the cumulative effect of certain medications can all produce memory problems that improve substantially once addressed. Ruling these in or out is a standard part of any competent workup.
How is dementia evaluated and managed?
Evaluation combines a detailed history — ideally with a family member present, since insight is often affected — with cognitive testing, bloodwork, and imaging where indicated. Management addresses medication when appropriate, but just as importantly sleep, mood, hearing, safety, driving, and support for the people providing care. Naming the condition clearly is what lets a family plan instead of guess.
How we approach memory and dementia care
Neurological evaluation
A full history and review of prior imaging, testing, and records before anything is decided — so the diagnosis is the right starting point.
Medication management
Choosing, adjusting, and monitoring treatment over time, with prescriptions sent electronically to your Florida pharmacy.
Coordinated care
Working alongside your primary care physician, therapists, and any specialists already involved, rather than in parallel with them.
What to expect
- 1
Request a visit
Tell us what's been happening and we'll schedule a video appointment, usually within days.
- 2
Send your records
Prior imaging, test results, and notes are reviewed before your visit so the time is spent on you, not on catching up.
- 3
Your video consultation
A full neurological consultation by secure video — history, discussion of findings, and a clear explanation of what's going on.
- 4
Plan and follow-up
You leave with a written plan, any prescriptions or referrals needed, and a scheduled point to check back in.
Related neurology services
Talk to a neurologist
Video visits with a board-certified neurologist, available anywhere in Florida.
Contact Mind Link