Wife experiencing memory loss and confusion along with cognitive inabilities. She is only 61 yr.'s old. I have an appt. for her to see a geriatric Dr.

I'd start with a geriatric doctor, who would then probably continue as primary care provider. Then on to the neurologist for more specialized care as and if the geriatric doctor recommends.

I believe it's good to have a doctor experienced with older patients' issues once we get to a certain age. Although your wife is not old old, she has a problem that a geriatric doctor sees and treats all the time. That doctor can advise. I wish you luck.

We started with her PCP and then to the geriatric doc. The geriatric doc ordered blood work, reviewed her meds and changed a few known to cause confusion, etc. Eventually went to neuro and had a CT scan (or was it an MRI??). While your wife is very young, there is early onset dementia. My FIL had it in his early 60s as well. Hopefully they'll find something fixable.

She will be referred to (or SHOULD be) a neurologist in all likelihood.

If you want to check out medical practitioners specializing in dementia do check out National Counsel of Certified Dementia Practioners at NCCDP.org or get advice on alz.org online. Best of luck and hope you'll update us. There are examples of tests online if you care to access them. Sometimes dementia can be mimicked by anxiety disorders. Stay hopeful until you know. Glad she is agreeable to testing; that is in fact a POSITIVE sign.

The first thing I would want to have done is a Physical to make sure that she is healthy. No UTI or other problems. The Primary doctor may also do a Mini Mental exam.
A Neurologist or a Neuropsychologist will do memory testing and make a "diagnosis" based on the results.
Between now and when her appointment in you might also want to make an appointment with an Elder Care Attorney and make sure you have all the paperwork done that needs to be done for when she can no longer make decisions. the fact that she is not Medicare age a consult with the attorney might be needed.
Do you know what she wants as far as End of Life decisions, IV fluids? Tube feeding? CPR? What are the plans if she needs to be placed in a Memory Care facility?
Are either of you Veterans? If so the VA might be of help.