How is dementia diagnosed?

Your GP appointment before and after

GPs may also ask questions about daily functioning to understand how symptoms are affecting everyday life. In some cases, further investigations such as blood tests are used to rule out other possible causes, and brain scans like MRI or CT may be carried out to look for changes in brain structure.

After an initial appointment with your GP, if there are concerns that the person may have dementia, they should usually be referred to a specialist for further assessment. This may be:

• a psychiatrist with experience in dementia
• a doctor specialising in elderly care, known as a geriatrician
• a doctor specialising in the brain and nervous system, known as a neurologist

The person may be seen in a memory clinic, a hospital, or sometimes in a community setting such as a GP practice.

Although dementia is often associated with older age, it can also affect younger people. When it develops in someone aged 65 or under, it is often described as young onset dementia.

What to expect during the assessment

As part of the assessment, the specialist may carry out tests that look at memory, attention, language, verbal fluency, and visual or spatial awareness. This may include tasks such as:

• counting backwards from 20
• remembering an address and recalling it a few minutes later
• identifying familiar objects
• copying a diagram
• drawing a clock face

As with the initial GP appointment, it can be very helpful for a family member or someone who knows the person well to attend too. They may be able to share useful observations or examples of changes they have noticed. If they are unable to attend, a short written note can still be very valuable.

Could dementia care be right for me?

When needs become more complex, healthcare professionals may also discuss longer-term care planning alongside the diagnostic process. In some cases, this can include considering specialist dementia care settings, where additional support is available to manage increasing memory, communication, and daily living difficulties in a safe environment.

This forms part of a broader approach to diagnosis and care, helping ensure that appropriate support is in place as the condition evolves.