Thegoalofadiagnosisistoeliminateanyotherpossiblecondition(reversibleorirreversible)thatcouldbecreatingdementia-likesymptoms.Forinstance,itisimportanttomakeadistinctionbetweendementiaanddepression.Bothconditionsareassociatedwithimpairmentsofthinkingability(e.g.includingmemorydifficulties)andwithdiminishedinterestinactivities(e.g.includinglackofinitiative).Bothindementiaanddepression,thesymptomscanbedisruptivetodailyactivityperformance.Moreover,depressionismore
