Dementia treatments
Dementia information
Diagnosing the cause of memory and thinking problems early is important. It means you can get the right help and support.
In this section:
With the correct diagnosis, you may also be able to take part in research to test new dementia treatments, if the cause of your mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is due to Alzheimer’s disease, or you are at an increased risk due to another condition, such as sleep apnoea.
How is mild cognitive impairment diagnosed?
Your doctor is the first person to see if you are worried about your memory or thinking.
Keeping track of symptoms in a diary and bringing it with you can help when speaking to your doctor.
A family member or person that supports you can help keep the diary, as there may be symptoms you do not notice.
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, including blood pressure and balance
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run a blood test to rule out some causes of memory and thinking problems that can be treated if caught early. These include vitamin deficiencies and thyroid disorders
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ask you for a urine sample
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ask you to complete some memory and thinking tests.
Can MCI be caused by conditions other than dementia?
Your doctor may find out that your symptoms are due to a health condition such as depression, anxiety, vitamin deficiency or thyroid problems.
If this is the case, they will be able to provide the best course of treatment.
Memory clinic referrals
If these conditions have been ruled out, your GP may refer you to a memory clinic or other specialist clinic for further tests to find out the cause of your MCI.
These tests may include:
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A brain scan to look for signs of dementia, such as brain shrinkage. This might be an MRI or CT scan.
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In-depth memory tests.
In-depth tests like a PET scan or lumbar puncture can show that someone has very early Alzheimer’s disease. In this case, a doctor would diagnose MCI due to Alzheimer’s disease.
However, PET scans and lumbar punctures are not common in NHS memory clinics run by mental health or community trusts. They are more likely to be offered in hospital-based memory clinics.
Because MCI affects people differently and has many causes, some people experience difficulties getting their symptoms diagnosed.
This means it can take longer than usual to get the right diagnosis.
Where can I find support with getting a diagnosis of MCI?
If you are diagnosed with MCI, your doctor can talk to you about the next steps.
As people with MCI have a higher risk of developing dementia, symptoms should be monitored closely over time. If you notice they do get worse, you can go to the GP as soon as possible and ask for a referral to the memory clinic for follow up tests.
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, 1.25 MB, 13 pages
Find out more
You can find out more about current diagnosis and treatments for each type of dementia on the following pages:
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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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This information was updated in November 2025 and is due to be reviewed in November 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.
