Diagnosis

When someone goes to their doctor about symptoms of dementia the doctor will:

• ask about your symptoms and medical history and may give you a physical check-up.
• ask you to do some memory and thinking tests.
• run other tests, like blood tests, which may help the doctor to rule out other common causes for your symptoms like thyroid disorders or vitamin deficiencies.

If the doctor suspects dementia they should refer the person on to a specialist doctor or memory clinic. Here doctors are more able to diagnose young onset dementia and may do:

• a brain scan to look for changes in the structure of your brain or to rule out other causes of your symptoms.
• in depth memory and thinking tests.
• A lumbar puncture which can help to detect “markers” of the diseases that cause dementia in a sample of your spinal fluid.

People who experience dementia symptoms at a younger age can often struggle to get a diagnosis or referrals, and the process can take longer than it does for someone over the age of 65. This is in part because young onset dementia is less common and more likely to present with unusual symptoms. So, some doctors may not recognise dementia symptoms in younger people or put it down to other common conditions like stress, depression or menopause.

If you are struggling to get a diagnosis you can ask for a second opinion from another doctor. Keep a diary of your symptoms and how they affect your everyday life, as this can be helpful to show doctors when you have appointments. You can also contact Dementia UK’s Admiral Nurses, who are dementia specialist nurses on 0800 888 6678 or helpline@dementiauk.org They can advise people that are struggling to get a diagnosis.

For more information on getting a diagnosis of dementia, please contact us on 0300 111 5111 or infoline@alzheimersresearchuk.org and ask for our booklet “Problems with your memory?” or the "Personal checklist” produced by Young Dementia Network that can aid discussions with your doctor about symptoms.