Live in care at Home – Elderly home care blog

If you think you may be developing dementia, or that someone you know may be affected, it’s best to see your GP.

You won’t usually get a definite diagnosis at your first visit, especially if you are in the early stages. Your GP may follow your progress for several months to make a more definitive diagnosis.

Your GP is likely to ask about your medical history, as well as that of your family. He or she will probably give you a physical examination and may do blood and urine tests to rule out the possibility of other conditions that could be causing your dementia symptoms. Your GP may carry out memory tests – one that is often used is the mini mental state examination.

Depending on the outcome of the tests, your GP may refer you to a specialist doctor, psychiatrist or psychologist. He or she may do more detailed tests and suggest that you have a brain scan (either a CT, MRI or SPECT scan) to provide more information.

It’s difficult for doctors to diagnose what type of dementia you have as the symptoms are very similar for all of them. However, as medicines advance, it’s important to find out what is causing your dementia as some types can be treated and the symptoms slowed down.