Diagnosis
Alzheimer's disease
Diagnosing dementia is important. It’s just as important to understand the specific type of dementia, as this can help someone get the right treatment and support.
If you are worried about your dementia symptoms, or someone else’s, you should talk to your doctor as soon as possible.
In this section:
Diagnosing dementia is important. It’s just as important to understand the specific type of dementia, as this can help someone get the right treatment and support.
If you are worried about your dementia symptoms, or someone else’s, you should talk to your doctor as soon as possible.
Some people may not want to see their GP or may not realise they are experiencing memory and thinking problems. This can make it harder to encourage them to seek help.
It can be useful to keep a diary of any symptoms you notice or experience, to help monitor changes over time. This can help to guide discussions with a GP.
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Getting a diagnosis was important for us so we would know what we were dealing with and could have some sense of control over it.
- Alison, whose husband Frank is living with Alzheimer's
How does a GP test for Alzheimer's?
When you go to the GP with memory and thinking concerns, the GP may:
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Ask about your symptoms and how they are affecting you.
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Ask a relative or close friend if they have noticed any changes.
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Check your medical history.
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Give you a physical check-up, checking your blood pressure and balance.
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Run a blood test to rule out some other possible causes. These include conditions like vitamin deficiencies and thyroid disorders that can be treated if caught early.
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Ask you for a urine sample.
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Ask you to do some memory and thinking tests.
You can request a longer GP appointment to allow enough time for these checks. It may be helpful to bring someone who knows you well to the appointment.
What happens at a memory clinic?
If your doctor suspects Alzheimer’s or another disease that causes dementia, they may refer you to a memory clinic or another specialist clinic.
A memory clinic or specialist doctor may:
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Ask you more questions about your concerns, symptoms and how they affect you.
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Do another physical check-up and some more memory and thinking tests
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Send you for other tests like a brain scan.
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Suggest some further blood tests.
In some cases, you might be offered a spinal fluid test (called a ‘lumbar puncture’, ‘spinal tap’ or ‘CSF test’). This fluid is tested for abnormal levels of the proteins amyloid and tau, found in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
The results of all these tests will help the doctor to find out what’s causing the symptoms.
Currently, there is no way to diagnose any type of dementia with complete accuracy. Researchers are working hard to look for more accurate ways of diagnosing dementia.
Frank's diagnosis involved several visits to his GP and then to a consultant psychiatrist at the memory clinic. They needed to rule everything else out before they could give the Alzheimer's diagnosis.
What is mild cognitive impairment?
Some people develop mild memory problems that are worse than expected for their age, but do not get in the way of normal daily life. They may be diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
A doctor may also want to wait to look for any further changes over time. They may ask you to come back in six months or a year to repeat the assessments.
People with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have a higher chance of developing Alzheimer’s, but many don’t.
Some people even get better and their memory and thinking returns to normal, depending on what’s causing their symptoms.
If symptoms are mild, a doctor may also want to wait to look for any further changes over time. They may ask you to come back in six months or a year to repeat the assessments.
Your doctor may also discuss opportunities for you to get involved in dementia research.
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Alzheimer's Research UK has a wide range of information about dementia. Order booklets or download them from our online form.
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Dementia information
Find out more about Alzheimer's including the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatments.
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PDF, 4.1 MB, 17 pages
This information was updated in May 2026 and is due for review in May 2028. It was written by Alzheimer's Research UK's Information Services team with input from lay and expert reviewers. Please get in touch if you'd like a referenced copy.
This information is produced with support from The Perfume Shop who had no input into the content.
