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What is a diagnosis?

I think I have dementia, but how can I be sure?

If you’re worried you might have symptoms of dementia, it's best to get checked out. Here's what to do next...

If you suspect you have dementia it’s important to get your symptoms checked by a doctor. This is the first step in seeking a diagnosis – which is a medical process that helps to identify an illness ,and usually starts with your GP.

There’s a chance that what you’re experiencing isn’t dementia but a condition that requires treatment to improve or resolve itself, so getting a GP appointment is a very good idea.

If it is dementia, there are different types and there are things that can help manage the symptoms and slow the progress down, including taking medication, so the sooner you seek a diagnosis and find out what’s going on for you, the better.

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Share your concerns

If you’re worried that you might have dementia, talk to a family member, friend or someone you trust. Tell them why you think you might have dementia and share your concerns.

You might have all sorts of thoughts and feelings about this, but it’s important that you get support with what you’re experiencing, whether you’re living with dementia, or not.

Make a note

Make a list of all the issues you’re experiencing – it might help to ask a loved one to help with this as they might see changes that you’ve not noticed. Include:

  • Symptoms – the problems you’re having

  • When your issues started – dates/times

  • Whether anyone else in your family has experienced similar issues

  • How symptoms affect your everyday life

  • Details of any existing conditions or illnesses you might have and medication you currently take

Getting a diagnosis

If you think you might have dementia you need to go to your GP for an initial assessment. You can read more about what this involves here

Take someone with you along with as well as your list of symptoms and details of how they affect your day-to-day life.

Your doctor will do an initial assessment and might send you for blood tests to rule out other conditions. You will most likely be referred to a specialist for further, in-depth tests and scans if your GP suspects that dementia is likely.

Worried you might have dementia? You’re not alone. Chat to others in the same situation on our discussion forum here