Memory Loss Assessment, Testing, and Diagnosis

For All Memory Concerns Including Memory Loss, Alzheimer's, and Dementia

The Deanna and Sidney Wolk Center for Memory Health is dedicated to helping individuals with all their memory health concerns.

We’re here to help, whether you:

  • Worry about sustaining your current cognitive health as you age
  • Wonder about your current cognitive abilities, including memory, thinking, attention, planning, decision-making or wayfinding 
  • Have been told by friends or family that they’ve noticed  a change in your memory or other cognitive abilities, but you have no diagnosis 
  • Have received a diagnosis of an illness that can affect cognition and are struggling with it
  • Have received a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or a related dementia, or memory loss but are looking for more precise diagnostics and proactive, personalized treatment options, or 
  • Feel depressed or anxious about your own memory loss, or that of a loved one. 

Finding the Root Causes of Dementia and Cognitive Decline

We are passionate about providing clarity to patients and their families. Not just for peace of mind, but to empower you to chart the course forward. Wolk Center for Memory Health assessments go beyond “whether” you have an impairment to identify “why” you are experiencing it, what that means for your future, and what can be done about it. You and your family deserve these answers.

Cognitive decline can be caused by a wide range of reversible and irreversible conditions, spanning nutritional deficiencies and infections to neurological disorders and a range of dementia types including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, or mixed dementia. 

By isolating the specific cause of a patient’s memory loss, we can recommend and coordinate custom interventions to improve each patient’s quality of life, minimize disability, and hopefully slow the progress of their disease. 

Diagnostic Services at the Wolk Center for Memory Health

Our memory testing services include:

  • Comprehensive assessment to identify contributing factors
  • Facilitation of advanced diagnostic testing to guide treatment
  • An on-site cognitive behavioral neurologist and neuropsychologist

When dementia is diagnosed, there is reason for hope. Based on our evaluation, we work with each patient to develop an individualized treatment plan and then coordinate with the patient’s primary care physician on recommendations for treatment. A typical care plan might include evidence-based treatments that strengthen and extend cognitive abilities, such as lifestyle modifications, care programs, and noninvasive brain stimulation techniques—as well as access to cutting-edge research.

Frequently Asked Questions about Memory Assessments at the Wolk Center for Memory Health

Memory loss that interferes with daily functioning is a cause for concern. Signs you may want to consult a doctor about your memory concerns include:

  • Challenges in planning or solving problems
  • Difficulty completing familiar tasks
  • Trouble understanding visual images or spatial relationships
  • Decreased or poor judgment
  • Withdrawal from work or social activities.

Read our blog post for more about the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

If coming for a consultation for yourself or a loved one, you may meet with one or more of our clinicians including specialists in neurology, geriatrics, psychology, and psychiatry. Family or care partners are always encouraged to accompany patients during visits. We invite you to get to know our team.

We provide an array of diagnostic services on site including cognitive and functional assessments, laboratory testing, spinal taps if required, and more. If imaging, such as an MRI or PET scan, is recommended, we’ll refer you to a convenient area hospital or imaging facility.

Initial visits include a review of your medical records, discussion of your concerns and needs, and some gathering of assessment measures. If additional testing is recommended such as MRI or PET scan, the necessary tests will be ordered. Follow-up visits may be in the clinic or virtually and could include additional testing, medication recommendations, referral to other specialists within the Wolk Center team, or referral to other resources within and outside Hebrew SeniorLife.

As part of our commitment to person-centered care, we work with you to complete the assessment at a pace that is appropriate for you.

The Wolk Center offers clinical treatment and care coordination with the patient’s primary care team, easing the burden on families and optimizing outcomes.

Our services are covered by most health insurances.

The Wolk Center for Memory Health is located within Hebrew SeniorLife’s flagship campus, Hebrew Rehabilitation Center - Boston. Use the lower B1 entrance (lower visitor lot) on Centre Street for the easiest access to the Wolk Center for Memory Health.

How to Schedule an Appointment

Contact us at 617-363-8600 or send us a message online for an initial consultation. Together, we can start putting together a plan that works for your own unique needs. Virtual and in-person appointments are available. 

Contact the Wolk Center

Related Wolk Center Services

A geriatrician from Orchard Cove’s on-site primary care practice consults with a resident.

Your Quality of Life

Clinical Treatment for Dementia

Yes, there are ways to decrease your risk of developing more advanced dementia, slow the progression of cognitive decline, and maximize your daily functioning. Learn more about our treatment offerings as well as clinical trials.

Get Treatment
An older woman sits at a table painting at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in Dedham, with bright artwork in the foreground. She is smiling up at a younger female staff member who is standing next to her and holding her hand.

You’re Not Alone

Support for Living with Memory Loss

Caring for a loved one with dementia can be overwhelming. That’s why we’re here to help you with caregiver training, counseling, support groups, and more.

Get Personalized Support
Dr. Caleb Jordan and Dr. Davide Cappon have a discussion while walking outside.

Experts Here For You

Meet the Team

As a Wolk Center patient, you’ll benefit from a team approach. Meet the expert professionals who will collaborate on your care.

Get to Know Us
Brain Health Guide image

Your Brain Health Matters

Free Guide to Brain Health

Download our free guide, “Optimizing Your Brain Health,” for expert advice on boosting brain health at any age. Explore practical tips and resources from Hebrew SeniorLife’s Deanna and Sidney Wolk Center for Memory Health.

Download Now