Last Updated: August 13, 2026

Beth Britton explores what to do if you are concerned about dementia symptoms in yourself or a loved one, and what to expect from the diagnostic process

Worrying that changes in yourself or a loved one could be due to dementia is one of the biggest health concerns amongst the general public. As human beings we often try to mask symptoms or put them down to other plausible causes, and many people delay seeking answers for fear of what a doctor might diagnose.

Increased coverage of dementia, like what’s seen during Dementia Action Week every year, raise awareness of dementia and may bring concerns about potential symptoms to the fore for individuals and families. Making the leap into having those concerns investigated is still seen as a big step for many people though, and it’s common for individuals and families to wrestle with the dilemma about reporting symptoms for longer than they might for other health concerns.

Should I seek a diagnosis?

With the NHS Priorities and Operational Planning Guidance no longer featuring (as of 2025/26) a dementia diagnosis rate target (the target had said that 66.7% of people living with dementia in England should have a diagnosis), there is a temptation to feel that providing a diagnosis has somehow become less important for the NHS, but for many individuals and families a timely diagnosis remains vital to help explain changes they are seeing or experiencing and to be able to access services and support.

Understanding how someone with potential dementia symptoms might feel about seeking a diagnosis was brought into sharp focus for me when I was chairing a panel at The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Show in March 2025. Alongside me were Clive and Peter, two gentlemen living with dementia, and the first question came from another gentleman who was concerned he was developing dementia.

The gentleman in the audience described his symptoms and asked Clive and Peter: “What should I do? Should I seek a diagnosis?”

With huge wisdom borne out of their own experiences, Clive and Peter both explained why they felt seeking a diagnosis was a good idea to, amongst other things:

  • Give a reason for the gentleman’s symptoms (they may not be dementia related).
  • Stop the constant mental toll of wondering (because however much you might try to ignore what is worrying you, it’s very difficult to do that).
  • Get an answer that both Clive and Peter were adamant shouldn’t be feared. After all, there they were talking to an audience of strangers about their own experiences of diagnosis and living with dementia. 

“Go and see your GP,” was Clive and Peter’s advice, backed up by Chris Roberts, another gentleman living with dementia in the audience.

This exchange was quite simply the very best example of live, in-the-moment peer support I’ve ever witnessed, and it made me think how many other people are pondering symptoms of concern and wondering what to do next.

First steps in seeking a diagnosis

I cannot give any better advice than that which Clive and Peter gave. Talking to your GP, worrying though it might be to open up about what you’re noticing, is an important first step.

Common dementia symptoms include:

Find out more about symptoms from the Alzheimer’s Society. 

The Alzheimer’s Society also have a Symptoms Checklist. It can help to complete this before the GP appointment and show it to your doctor, and for a family member or friend to accompany the person to see the GP. It might help to book a double appointment with the GP so it feels less rushed. 

The GP will likely take a brief history about the person’s symptoms and conduct a simple memory test. The result of this, along with the history documented, may mean the GP feels the person needs to be seen by the local memory clinic.

What is a memory clinic and what will their assessment involve?

Memory clinics are usually part of hospitals. They provide out-patient clinic appointments to investigate concerns about dementia symptoms. Memory clinic assessment may happen within the outpatient clinic or via an appointment in the person’s home.

Waiting times for a memory clinic appointment can vary hugely, from 4-6 weeks to 12 months+. The likely waiting time should be shared to help everyone manage expectations, and ideally information should also be given on what to do and who to contact whilst awaiting the assessment. Please see the ‘What you can access yourself pre or post diagnosis’ section below as well.

The GP may ask for blood tests and a brain scan to be done before the memory clinic appointment. 

During the memory clinic assessment process, healthcare professionals will take an extensive history and do some more in-depth memory tests. Clinicians will likely also want to speak to a family member or friend to ask what symptoms they’ve noticed in their loved one too.

All of this information will be combined with the blood test and brain scan results and the memory clinic team will provide a diagnosis, or, if they can’t provide an explanation for the person’s symptoms, they may refer onto further specialist services, like neurology. 

Understanding the diagnosis and dementia sub-types

If the diagnosis is dementia, a sub-type diagnosis should be given. Do ask for this if it’s not automatically offered as knowing sub-type information is helpful to enable the person and their family to learn about their specific type of dementia and get more tailored support. 

Getting a sub-type diagnosis means being told the specific type of dementia a person has. If you think of ‘dementia’ as an umbrella term, underneath that umbrella sits all the different types of dementia.

The most common types of dementia are:

  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Vascular dementia
  • Dementia with Lewy Bodies
  • Frontotemporal dementia

You can also be diagnosed with more than one sub-type of dementia, and this is known as ‘Mixed dementia’. You can find out more about types of dementia from Dementia UK

The diagnosis may also be MCI – Mild Cognitive Impairment – which isn’t dementia but could mean a person develops dementia in the future.

After a dementia diagnosis  

People report an array of feelings after a dementia diagnosis, from fear to relief and everything in-between. Sadly many people aren’t automatically offered peer support, so it’s worth checking out the thoughts of peers who’ve been through their own diagnostic experience via Dementia Diaries, which is a collection of over three thousand audio and video recordings of people living with dementia talking about numerous different aspects of their lives.

Diagnosing clinicians will advise about what I term ‘life admin’ (informing the DVLA if the person drives, getting a will and power of attorney completed etc), provide some written information/leaflets, and they should offer post-diagnosis support either through the memory clinic or through a third sector partner such as the Alzheimer’s Society or Age UK.

Post-diagnostic support will vary between different areas of the country but typically the offering is a course of CST (Cognitive Stimulation Therapy) which is usually delivered over 12 weeks, and other information sessions or courses that help the person and their carer/family learn more about dementia. Some people may be offered reminiscence, music or art therapy courses too.

The point a person is discharged from their memory clinic back to their GP will vary – some memory clinics provide a long-term service that includes different post-diagnostic courses and ongoing support, while others discharge people after they’ve stabilised them on a dementia medication (if this has been prescribed).

What you can access yourself pre or post diagnosis

As I said in my May 2023 blog for Care Choices entitled ‘Speaking up about dementia: Symptoms and diagnosis’, you don’t need a formal diagnosis before making changes at home that can help a person with dementia symptoms to live better:

“Access to services and support online is not dependent on having a diagnosis, so you don’t need to wait to find out information that can help you or a family member to live as happy and productive a life as possible today. This is especially important if the wait for your diagnosis is causing mental health problems like anxiety and depression. It might be particularly useful to research interventions like: 

In addition, as well as the aforementioned Dementia Diaries, the Dementia Engagement and Empowerment Project (DEEP), The 3 Nations Dementia Working Group (3NDWG) and Dementia Alliance International all provide online or in-person peer support.

For family carers/family members, Together in Dementia Everyday (TIDE) and Dementia Carers Count are the national organisations who support those who care for a person with dementia. There are many local carers support groups too. You can find details of carer organisations in your local Care Guide, which you can read online here or request a free printed copy.

For anyone concerned about dementia, pre or post diagnosis, Dementia UK and Alzheimer’s Society both provide multiple ways to access advice and support.

Conclusion

Whilst dementia is a diagnosis no one wants to hear, advocates like Clive and Peter speak positively about having answers to what they were experiencing and being able to live with their symptoms. Theirs and others stories hopefully provide comfort and inspiration to anyone embarking on getting answers to concerns about potential dementia symptoms.