Many patients with moderately severe to severe dementia of any sort have abnormal EEGs. This electrical activity can indicate cognitive dysfunction in part or all of the brain. In an EEG, electrodes are placed on the scalp over several parts of the brain in order to detect and record patterns of electrical activity and check for abnormalities. They can detect the same problems as CT scans but they are better for identifying certain conditions, such as brain atrophy and damage from small strokes or subtle ischemia.Дoctors also may use electroencephalograms (EEGs) in people with suspected seizures, which may occur in some forms of dementia. MRI scans use magnetic fields and focused radio waves to detect hydrogen atoms in tissues within the body. CT scans, which use X-rays to detect brain structures, can show evidence of brain atrophy, strokes and ischemia, changes to the blood vessels, and other problems such as hydrocephalus and subdural hematomas. Doctors frequently request a CT or MRI scan of the brain when they are examining a patient with suspected dementia. The most common types of brain scans are computed tomographic (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Brain scans also can identify changes in the brain's structure and function that suggest Alzheimer's disease. As brain cells die, the ventricles (or fluid-filled cavities in the middle of the brain) expand to fill the available space, becoming much larger than normal. In individuals with cortical atrophy, the progressive loss of neurons causes the ridges to become thinner and the sulci to grow wider. The brain's cortex normally appears very wrinkled, with ridges of tissue (called gyri) separated by 'valleys' called sulci. Also, cortical atrophy-degeneration of the brain's cortex (outer layer)-is common in many forms of dementia and may be visible on a brain scan. Doctors may use brain scans to identify strokes, tumors, or other problems that can cause dementia.

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