According to the NIH, all patients with new onset of dementia should have several basic and standard diagnostic studies, with modifications to be made according to individual circumstances:
Complete blood count.
Electrolyte panel.
Screening metabolic panel.
Thyroid function tests.
Vitamin B-12 and folate levels.
Tests for syphilis and, depending on history, for human immunodeficiency antibodies.
Urinalysis.
Electrocardiogram.
Chest x-ray.
Most of the readily reversible metabolic, endocrine, deficiency, and infectious states, whether causative or complicating, will be revealed by these simple investigations when combined with history and physical examination.
