Diagnosis
Dementia information
Diagnosing dementia, and where possible which type someone has is important. It ensures someone can recieve the right treatments, support and care to help them live well with their condition.
In this section:
If you are worried about your symptoms, or someone else's, you should talk to your GP as soon as possible.
How does a doctor test for dementia with Lewy bodies?
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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Check your medical history and general health.
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Do some physical tests like blood pressure and a balance or reflexes test.
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Ask you to do some memory and thinking tests.
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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.
Together these tests will help to identify the likely cause of your symptoms.
You may need to request a longer GP appointment to allow enough time for these checks.
If possible, it is helpful if you can bring someone who knows you well to the appointment. This will help the GP by giving information about any changes they may have noticed.
If your doctor suspects dementia, you may be referred to a memory clinic or another specialist doctor where more in depth tests can be done.
A memory clinic or specialist doctor may:
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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 to look for any changes in the brain, such as brain shrinkage, seen in dementia.
Once we got the referral, my mum was seen by a consultant and she he had an MRI scan to rule out a stroke and Parkinson’s. Then we got a letter confirming the diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies. It was a massive relief. It helped mum to know that there was something wrong with her; she would tell people ‘I’ve got dementia’, although she didn’t really understand it.
- Mel, whose mum was diagnosed with dementia with Lewy bodies
Brain scans for dementia with Lewy bodies
Brain scans like MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CT (computerised tomography), can help to diagnose dementia or rule out other causes of symptoms.
To help make a specific diagnosis of DLB, someone might be offered a special type of brain scan called a SPECT scan (or ‘DaTscan’). This type of scan can show changes in the brain that are more common in this type of dementia. However, when symptoms of DLB or PD are quite clear, someone may not need this test.
Find more information about getting a dementia diagnosis.
Downloads
Dementia information
Read more about treatments for dementia, including information on treating depression, anxiety and agitation and for information on antipsychotics.
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PDF, 577 kB, 13 pages
Find out more
You can find out more about current diagnosis and treatments for each type of dementia on the following pages:
Order health information
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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This information was updated in December 2025 and is due to be reviewed in December 2027. 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 version with references or in a different format.
This information is produced with support from The Perfume Shop who had no input into the content.
