How is dementia diagnosed?

If you are close to someone who is feeling confused, agitated or forgetful, you may like to suggest that the person see their general practitioner (GP). They may wish to accompany them on their visit.

'Dementia' describes a group of symptoms caused by the physical impact of disease or injury on the brain. There are a number of different conditions which lead to dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, vascular disease (including stroke) and dementia with Lewy bodies.

Each person will experience dementia in his or her own individual way, but there will usually be:

A decline in memory, reasoning and communication skills
A gradual loss of the skills needed to carry out daily activities.

Why get a diagnosis?

It is important to get a proper diagnosis of dementia. A diagnosis is essential to:

Rule out other conditions that may have symptoms similar to dementia and that may be treatable. These include depression, chest and urinary infections, severe constipation, vitamin and thyroid deficiencies and brain tumours.
Rule out other possible causes of confusion, such as poor sight or hearing, emotional changes and upsets, such as moving or bereavement, or the side-effects of certain drugs or a combination of drugs.
Access advice, information and support from social services, voluntary agencies and support groups.
Allow the person with dementia to plan and make arrangements for the future.

Identifying the type of dementia is becoming increasingly important as drugs for treating different conditions become available. For example, drugs are already available to treat some people in the early to middle stages of Alzheimer's disease. These drugs are ineffective in the treatment of Pick's disease, another form of dementia, and may actually worsen symptoms.

Making a diagnosis

Making a diagnosis of dementia is often difficult, particularly in the early stages. A definite diagnosis of the cause may only be confirmed after death, at post mortem, or in very rare instances through a brain biopsy.

The first step - assessment by a GP

The GP is the first person to consult if you are concerned about someone close to you.

Home or surgery

You may see the GP in their surgery or they may prefer to make a home visit. If dementia is suspected it is often easier to assess and observe the person's behaviour in the home. It then becomes clearer just what the problems are.

Background information

You can expect the GP to spend some time talking to you and the person you are concerned about, to try to establish some of the symptoms. The GP will look at the medical history of the person they are examining and the medical history of other members of the family.

Physical examinations and tests

The GP will normally carry out a physical examination and may perform a number of tests, such as blood and urine tests, to identify other conditions that may be causing confusion.

Mental tests

The GP may ask a series of questions designed to test thinking and memory.

Ability to cope

The GP will have access to some services such as community nursing. If there is a probable diagnosis of dementia or you are experiencing difficulties in managing, the GP can refer you to the social services.

Communication

At the end of the assessment the GP should communicate their findings in an appropriate way and discuss what action needs to be taken. They may feel able to make a diagnosis or they may wish to wait a certain length of time to make sure. In read more