If you've noticed memory changes in yourself or someone you love, you don't have to wait months for answers.
At LifeWorks Neurodiagnostic Center, Dr. Rhunelle Murray is a board-certified neurologist with over 15 years of experience evaluating memory loss, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and other forms of dementia. She takes the time to understand each patient’s full history rather than rushing through a checklist, and no physician referral is needed to get started.
Everyone forgets a name or misplaces their keys now and then. What sets normal aging apart from something that deserves a closer look is a pattern: memory lapses that happen more often, get in the way of daily life, or seem to be getting worse over time. Repeated questions, disorientation in familiar surroundings, confusion during conversations, and difficulty completing tasks that used to come easily are all reasons to schedule an evaluation rather than wait and see.
Family members often notice these changes before the person experiencing them does. If a loved one seems more forgetful, withdrawn, or confused than usual, that observation matters and is worth bringing to a neurologist, even if the person themselves isn’t convinced anything is wrong.
If you’re noticing changes but aren’t sure whether they warrant a visit, a conversation with our office can help you figure out the right next step.
A first visit for memory concerns is unhurried and thorough. Dr. Murray begins with a detailed conversation about the symptoms you or your family member have noticed, including when they started and how they’ve changed over time. She’ll also review current medications, since certain drugs and drug interactions can contribute to confusion or memory problems that mimic dementia.
From there, the visit typically includes:
We encourage patients to bring a trusted family member or caregiver to the appointment, along with a current medication list, any relevant medical records, and specific examples of the changes that have been noticed.
Having someone else in the room often helps fill in details the patient may not remember to mention, and it means a second person hears the same information and next steps.
One of the most important things to understand about memory evaluations is that there’s no single test that confirms Alzheimer’s disease on its own. Memory and thinking changes can come from a number of causes, including Alzheimer’s disease, other forms of dementia, medication side effects, thyroid or vitamin imbalances, sleep disorders, depression, or normal age-related changes.
Part of Dr. Murray’s role is to work through these possibilities methodically, using your history, exam, and testing together to understand what’s actually going on rather than jumping to conclusions. This is also why treatment planning is personalized. What’s appropriate for one patient may not be right for another, and a plan is only built after a full evaluation.
Memory care doesn’t end after the first visit. Depending on what your evaluation shows, care may include:
Because memory concerns often affect the whole family, we try to keep communication open with caregivers throughout the process, not just at the initial visit.
Getting in to see a neurologist through a large hospital system can mean waiting weeks or months, often after a separate referral appointment just to get the referral itself. LifeWorks Neurodiagnostic Center offers a different path.
When memory concerns come up, families want answers and a clear plan, not another waiting list. That’s what we aim to provide.
No. LifeWorks Neurodiagnostic Center does not require a physician referral. You can schedule an appointment directly.
Dementia is a general term for a decline in memory or thinking severe enough to affect daily life. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, but other conditions can cause similar symptoms, which is why a thorough evaluation matters.
Memory changes can be frightening, both for the person experiencing them and for the family watching from the outside. Getting a clear, compassionate evaluation is often the first step toward peace of mind, whatever the answer turns out to be.
Dr. Murray and the team at LifeWorks Neurodiagnostic Center are here to help you understand what’s happening and what comes next.
