It took us four months to see a good neurologist who spent two hours talking with us. He then ordered MRI, blood tests & EEG to rule out other causes. Then he set us up with a neuropsychologist who did three hours of verbal cognitive testing. The results from everything then allowed the neurologist to make a diagnosis of Alzheimer's. Prior to that I dealt with several years of denial on my husband's part. Everyone is different....my mother had ALZ & lived with me for four years. My girlfriend has it and is verbal and humorous about it.