Quick Answer
Cognitive assessment establishes whether independent daily function has changed, which is determined largely by an informant account with examples and dates. Reversible contributors are excluded first. Assessed at 7751 W. Flamingo Road, Suite A-100, Las Vegas NV 89147.
Part ofThis guide sits beneath memory and dementia, which covers the study itself, how it is performed and what the report should contain.
how CNS approaches Memory Loss and Dementia →Key Takeaways
- An informant account with examples and dates establishes whether daily function has changed.
- That threshold separates mild cognitive impairment from dementia and does more work than any test score.
- Reversible causes are checked first: B12, thyroid, depression, medication, sleep apnoea and alcohol.
- A brief cognitive test is a screening instrument; a single score neither diagnoses nor excludes dementia.
- Assessed at 7751 W. Flamingo Road, Suite A-100, Las Vegas NV 89147. Bring someone who sees you regularly.
Dementia
Dementia is an acquired decline in memory or other thinking abilities severe enough to interfere with everyday independence. It is a syndrome with several possible causes rather than a single disease, which is why identifying the cause matters.
The informant account decides the threshold
The distinction that governs everything in this area is whether independent daily function has been affected, and that is usually established by someone other than the patient.
Why self-report is unreliable here
The condition itself affects the ability to monitor it. Patients frequently under-report change, and sometimes over-report it when anxiety or low mood is the driver. What establishes whether daily function has altered is an informant’s account with examples and dates: managing finances, medications, appointments, navigation, cooking. That account is what separates mild cognitive impairment from dementia, and it does more diagnostic work than any test score.
Bring specific examples rather than impressions
Not that memory has got worse, but that bills went unpaid twice in three months when they never had before. Not confusion, but a wrong turn on a familiar route in March. Dates and instances are what allow a trajectory to be established, and reconstructing months from memory in a twenty-minute appointment loses most of it. A brief dated note kept over weeks is the most valuable thing anyone brings to this appointment.
The reversible causes worth excluding first
Vitamin B12 deficiency. Thyroid disease. Depression, which produces genuine cognitive impairment and is frequently mistaken for early dementia in both directions. Medication effects, particularly sedatives, anticholinergics and combinations accumulated over years. Untreated sleep apnoea, which impairs cognition measurably and is correctable. And alcohol. Each of those is identifiable and treatable, and each is missed often enough to be worth naming individually rather than gesturing at.
The episode that is not dementia
Episodes of altered awareness in an older adult are sometimes read as cognitive decline when they are seizures, which are treatable. A witnessed description of an episode is what separates them, on the epilepsy page.
| Also considered | How it is distinguished |
|---|---|
| Normal ageing | Slower recall that does not interfere with managing money, medication or appointments. |
| Mild cognitive impairment | Measurable change on testing while day-to-day independence is preserved. |
| Depression and sleep disorders | Attention and effort are affected more than storage; treating the cause often changes the picture. |
| Reversible contributors | Thyroid disease, B12 deficiency and some medications are looked for with blood work before a degenerative cause is settled on. |
What the assessment involves
01
What brings people in
Repeated questions, missed appointments or medication errors — often noticed first by a spouse, adult child or close friend rather than the patient.
02
What the evaluation settles
Whether measured change is present, whether it crosses the threshold for dementia, which pattern the testing fits, and whether a reversible contributor is present.
03
What you leave with
A documented cognitive baseline, results of reversible-cause screening, and a plan for follow-up, safety and caregiver support.
Bring someone who notices
A spouse, adult child, sibling or close friend who sees you regularly. Their account is clinical information rather than accompaniment, and its absence is the commonest reason a memory appointment cannot reach a conclusion. If they genuinely cannot attend, a written account with examples and dates is the next most useful thing.
What is done here and what is not
Clinical cognitive assessment, examination, and the blood work that identifies reversible contributors, ordered and interpreted here. Formal neuropsychological testing, which is several hours of detailed testing by a psychologist producing a profile across cognitive domains, is coordinated with outside providers rather than performed on site. So is imaging, since the practice operates no imaging suite. Being clear about that avoids a wasted journey.
What treatment addresses
Reversible contributors first, because correcting a B12 deficiency or removing a sedating medication sometimes changes the picture substantially. Vascular risk factors, coordinated with primary care, since vascular contribution is common and modifiable. Symptomatic medication where appropriate. And practical measures around safety, driving and legal planning, which frequently matter more to families than any prescription.
Driving, which is worth raising early
It is the subject families most avoid and it does not improve by being deferred. Discussing it while capacity is preserved allows the person to participate in the decision, which is a materially different conversation from having it imposed later.
The first 30, 60 and 90 days
Step 1
First visit
History and neurological examination, a review of records and prior imaging, and a decision on which studies are actually indicated. You leave with the plan, not just a referral.
Step 2
Within 30 days
Indicated in-office studies are performed and interpreted by the neurologist who ordered them, in our AANEM-accredited laboratories. Results are explained in plain language.
Step 3
60 to 90 days
Follow-up to judge whether the plan is working, adjust it, and coordinate with your referring clinician. Where a diagnosis needs time to confirm, this is where it is revisited.
Attending from Las Vegas
The Las Vegas office is at 7751 W. Flamingo Road, Suite A-100, in Sunrise Medical Plaza, with parking on site. All six in-office studies are performed and interpreted there, so nothing is sent across to Henderson. If you are coming from Summerlin, Spring Valley or Enterprise this is almost always the shorter journey. Adults 18 and older.
Concerned about memory or thinking?
Bring someone who sees you regularly, with dated examples. That is what the appointment needs most.
The Bottom Line
Bring someone who notices, with dated examples. That account decides the threshold, and the reversible causes get checked before anything else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you want a family member at the appointment?
Because the condition affects the ability to monitor it. An informant’s account with examples and dates is what establishes whether independent daily function has changed, which is the distinction separating mild cognitive impairment from dementia, and it does more diagnostic work than any test score. Ask them to jot things down as they occur rather than reconstructing on the day.
What should the informant bring?
Specific examples with dates rather than impressions. Not that memory has worsened, but that bills went unpaid twice in three months when they never had before. A brief dated note kept over weeks is the most valuable thing anyone brings. A phone note kept over three or four weeks works as well as anything more formal.
What reversible causes are checked?
Vitamin B12 deficiency, thyroid disease, depression, medication effects particularly sedatives and anticholinergics, untreated sleep apnoea, and alcohol. Each is identifiable and treatable, and each is missed often enough to be worth checking individually. Most are found on a single blood draw, which is why the work-up starts there rather than with imaging.
Is neuropsychological testing done at the practice?
No. Formal neuropsychological testing is several hours of detailed assessment by a psychologist and is coordinated with outside providers rather than performed on site. Clinical cognitive assessment and the relevant blood work are done here. We order it, receive the report and interpret it alongside the examination, so the referral stays part of one plan.
Does a low score on a memory test mean dementia?
No. A brief in-office test is a screening instrument affected by education, first language, hearing, vision, anxiety and fatigue. A single score neither diagnoses nor excludes dementia, and change over time is more informative than any one result. Bring hearing aids and reading glasses, because sensory impairment lowers scores independently of memory.
Could this be depression rather than dementia?
It can be, and depression produces genuine cognitive impairment. The two are mistaken for each other in both directions, which is one reason formal neuropsychological testing is sometimes arranged, since it can help separate them. Treating a mood disorder and then re-testing is a legitimate diagnostic step rather than a delay.
When should driving be discussed?
Earlier than families usually want to. It is the subject most avoided and it does not improve by being deferred. Discussing it while capacity is preserved lets the person participate in the decision rather than have it imposed later. A formal driving assessment can be arranged independently where the picture is genuinely unclear.
What if my relative refuses to come?
A written account with examples and dates is the next most useful thing. The appointment still proceeds, and it reaches a firmer conclusion with an informant account than without one. A phone call from the relative afterwards is also acceptable, provided permission is recorded at the visit, and that is frequently easier to arrange.
Where exactly is the Las Vegas office?
7751 W. Flamingo Road, Suite A-100, Las Vegas NV 89147, in Sunrise Medical Plaza on the west side of the valley, with parking on site. All six in-office studies are performed and interpreted there, so nothing is referred across to the Henderson office. Summerlin, Spring Valley and Enterprise are generally closer to it than to Horizon Ridge Parkway.
Should I use the Las Vegas or the Henderson office?
Whichever is the shorter drive, since both are fully equipped and hold the same records. West Flamingo Road generally suits the west and southwest of the valley; West Horizon Ridge Parkway suits Green Valley, Anthem and Boulder City. If you can attend either, say so when booking, because availability differs between the two week to week.
How this page was sourced
Practice facts come from Clinical Neurology Specialists directly: that clinical cognitive assessment and the relevant blood work are performed here, that formal neuropsychological testing and imaging are coordinated with outside providers rather than performed on site, and that the practice sees adults 18 and older. Clinical context is sourced to the organisations listed below.
No cognitive test scores, cut-offs, prevalence figures or named medications appear, because scores depend on the instrument and on education, language and sensory function, and treatment selection is a clinical decision. No outcome is promised. Scope is adults 18 and older.
Change log
- 2026-07-28 — page published; clinical content reviewed.
- 2026-07-28 — last reviewed against AAN, AANEM and NINDS guidance; internal links and schema verified.
- Review cadence: quarterly, or sooner if guidance changes.
How to cite this page
Clinical Neurology Specialists. “Dementia specialist Las Vegas.” Reviewed 2026-07-28. https://www.cnsnevada.com/conditions/memory-dementia/dementia-specialist-las-vegas/
References
- Alzheimer's Association — patient and carer information on dementia.
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke — the reference catalogue of nervous-system disorders.
- American Academy of Neurology — clinical practice guidance on cognitive assessment.
This page is for general information about a Clinical Neurology Specialists office and is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment recommendation. It does not create a physician-patient relationship. Adults 18 and older. For an active stroke, a first-time or prolonged seizure, sudden severe headache, sudden weakness, sudden vision loss, or a head injury with loss of consciousness, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.