What is the benefit of a Neuropsychological testing?

Thank you for sharing your experience with this topic. My husband doesn't agree easily for any testing and doubts the results when he is tested. In fact, he tells me that he is "just as he has always been" and I "am the one changing!" I suppose he is partially right as we all change as the years go by. We are soon to be going in for another check-in/evaluation with his Mayo neurologist and I am hoping to find out how far we have advanced on our Parkinson/Lewy Body Dementia journey. Though we have had several Zoom appointments over the last year and a half, I find the in person visits reveal more information to the doctors. I wish my husband, who is a retired educational leader, would have the same attitudes towards testing as your wife. It would be so helpful to me. Take care and thanks again for sharing your experience.

My pleasure, @hbjuniperflat I wish you all the best with your follow-ups! Let me know if you have any other questions as I am always willing to share what we learned during our journey,
Strength, Courage, & Peace

My husband has been through the neuro-psyche testing at least three times. He dreads it for days before it actually happens. I try to help him with the anxiety and try to provide some coping skills (this is not a test to enter college- just enjoy the time you are with the testers, etc ). He did tell them he would like to skip the math portion from now on and that was fine with them and with me. As his caregiver and as a former teacher, the testing is very beneficial to me. It does help with getting a handle on the progression of the disease and takes away some guesswork of the pace of decline. It helps to find things he can do well as it identifies areas of strength and helps me to capitalize on them. It also provides ideas of how to help him cope as some skills become weaker....and it helps me to try to be more patient and compassionate...some days are easier than others. I just keep reminding myself of how grateful I am to have had the once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of this amazing man's life. He has taken very good care of our family, and I treasure this time to be his help mate through this part of our journey.

I loved your comment "I just keep reminding myself of how grateful I am ...." My wife is in the late stage of Alzheimer's Disease and I love her more than ever just the way she is. I put a note on her mirror "How great is God's goodness to have given you to me to love for a lifetime!"

This is lovely.

"How great is God's goodness...on her mirror! What a sweet thought....I am going to "mirror" you and do the same thing! As an added thought, my mom had the following saying engraved inside my dad's wedding band: "I love you twice as much today as I did yesterday and only 1/2 as much as tomorrow." I never knew how that was written on the inside of his band but a true jeweler must have been quite skilled. She always put "2x- 1/2" on anything she ever wrote to him. She died 2 years ago and dad (age 94) still wears the ring that has only been taken off for surgeries. (Please forgive this melancholic moment -but all of us need these little tidbits to remind us of how fortunate we are even on the difficult days. )

Hello @teacher502 and @larryh123, my husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease about two years ago, after an MRI and a day of neuropsychological testing. It was gruelling for him, but useful at the time, as it confirmed the diagnosis, which I wanted to deny. His disease is progressing slowly and his memory comes and goes. Yesterday he knew who the people I was talking about were, whereas he did not know who they were the day before. He stopped driving without a fight and has stepped down from managing our finances. In our current situation, I don't think more neuropsychological testing would be beneficial. It would involve a flight to another island, take two days, and upset him. He does have a low tolerance for doing difficult things and changes in routine upset him. He still functions well around the house, helps me with chores when I ask, and overall, has a pleasant disposition.

Hello!
Speaking as the person who administers these tests, it can actually be very helpful to have a diagnosis. There are multiple types of cognitive impairments, and each one has its own unique presentation and associated symptoms. Knowing what you are dealing with can help with safety issues (eg keeping someone from getting lost), financial concerns (eg who remembers to pays bills, and if the affected person requires additional assistance), and how to help plan ahead (eg keeping a big calendar in the kitchen or making a stable routine). Some cognitive impairments may mean someone is at greater risk for certain types of dementia. Each one progresses differently. Knowing in advance can help you, your partner, and your healthcare team know what to look for.
Testing can also give you an objective baseline you can reference back to in a year or so to see how quickly (if at all) someone is declining. The assessments can occasionally be aggravating for sure. I always tell my patients that NO ONE gets everything right; everyone has strengths and weaknesses. And if it wasn't hard, they wouldn't be here. They are designed to find people's limits. Lastly, even if you can't get through hours of testing, at least ask for a [quick!] screening test to help get you in the ball park until all parties are ready to do the full thing.

My wife went through a 3 hour test back in 2020 and this was not her 1st test. She was extremely anxious about the 2021 test and I talked her out of it. Her Neurologist went over the results of tests with us but we can't see the benefit of another test or having her stress about another one. I want each one of her days to be a good day and not one she has to stress over (I'll take that job).

When we began the diagnostic journey, I made 2 appts for 3 hour testing for my husband. One with the geriatrician and the other with a neuropsychologist. We went to the first- no prep or practice. Neither of us slept the night before. The doctor began with a casual interview with both of us then sent my husband back with the social worker. They did what was equal to the mini mental and Moca but no three hours. He got 26 out of 30. Failed the clock test- we never worked on that as many suggested. I think this was best for honest results. He also missed on a few other areas. I spent time with the doctor and in the end of a three hour appt he was diagnosed with MCI, and a driving test recommended.
In the meantime we found another neuropsychologist as a therapist and he said there was no need to put him through three more hours so I cancelled the second appt for testing.
Since then he has had a driving test which included more testing on cognition and reflexes and all. He passed while I was praying in every way I could. With limits- drive only familiar roads; no night driving; and no driving in inclement weather otherwise good job.
Then we see two neurosychogists regularly who agree no more testing but no question he has MCI. MRI shows ischemic vascular changes.
Through the geriatrician, he is eligible for a speech therapist who does cognitive therapy with him weekly. At that time they work on all aspects of cognition and essentially it’s like more evaluation. They work on brain games, logic, processing thinking etc.
I think it’s important to get a diagnosis and determine areas that are showing impairment, but math, one of his strong areas is going. I am now taking charge of finances ( another area where he was brilliant and many consulted him). Now I am meeting with our advisors to turn over management of our portfolio. Sad for him but he is fine for me to go by myself now.
I need to go now. But hope this helps.