Subjective — ask

• Memory or confusion concerns from the patient and the caregiver, and the onset and course (acute and fluctuating versus gradual).
• Specific lapses — missed medications, getting lost, repeating questions, or difficulty with familiar tasks.
• The functional impact — effect on medication management, finances, and activities (detail in Function).
• Behavioral and psychological symptoms — agitation, suspiciousness, hallucinations, or sleep-wake disturbance.
• Any acute precipitant — a new medication, infection, dehydration, or recent illness.