A guide to getting a dementia diagnosis

If you are noticing memory problems, confusion, or personality changes in yourself or someone close to you, the first step is to speak with your GP. They can carry out a short memory test, organise blood tests, or refer you for a brain scan to check for other causes.

Your GP can also refer you to a local Memory Assessment Service. These services offer more detailed support and can help you understand what might be going on.

What to expect from the process

Once referred, you or a family member will be asked to complete a form giving background information. This helps the team understand how things have changed and what support might be needed.

Questions you may be asked include:

• When did the symptoms begin, and have they changed slowly or suddenly?

• Are short-term or long-term memory problems more noticeable?

• What examples show how things have changed (such as repeating questions, confusion, trouble with names or dates)?

• How has this affected daily life - including tasks like cooking, managing medication, personal care, or handling money?

• Have there been changes in speech, handwriting, mood, or personality?

• Are there any signs of visual or sound hallucinations, poor judgement, or increased anxiety?

  
  

You may also be asked about:

• Family history of dementia, Parkinson’s disease or mental health issues

• School, work and retirement background

• Current and past health conditions, medication, alcohol use and smoking

• Who supports you, your living situation, and any social or volunteer activities

• Any risks such as falls, getting lost or unsafe driving

At the memory clinic:

You will be invited to meet with a team member for a relaxed conversation about how things are going. You can bring someone with you for support. You may also be asked to complete a short quiz to help assess your memory and thinking skills.

You may be referred for a brain scan:

A CT scan takes 10 to 20 minutes. You will lie in a scanner and may be asked to hold your breath briefly. Scans help rule out other problems and can also show:

• Signs of past strokes

• Brain shrinkage or changes in blood vessels

• Tumours or fluid build-up

  
  

More about brain scans can be found here: Alzheimer’s Research UK – Brain Scans and Dementia

Understanding the Outcome

Once the team has all the information, including your scan results, they will meet to decide whether a diagnosis can be made. You may be told over the phone or in person.

Sometimes, people are diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment or Age-Related Cognitive Decline rather than dementia. This means there are changes, but they are not enough to meet the criteria for a dementia diagnosis. You may be invited for a follow-up in six to nine months.

If you are diagnosed with dementia, you may be offered medication. The team will check your heart rate and other health factors to see which treatments are suitable. They will support you while the right dose is found. Once stable, you will be referred back to your GP along with a support worker from your local dementia service.

Specific to Crowborough and East Sussex

The Crowborough Memory and Dementia Assessment Service is based at Grove House, next to Crowborough Hospital. This is where local residents are referred for further assessment and support.

People in our community have told us that waiting times are around six months. The service is led by Professor Naji Tabet, an expert in dementia who also holds an honorary consultant role at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Professor Tabet is now part of our Good Company Board of Trustees. In more complex cases, he may review assessments himself. Many families in the area have found this reassuring and feel well supported.

For more information about this service, visit: Memory Assessment Service – Sussex Partnership

What if I don't live in the area?

Memory Assessment Services are available across the country. If you live elsewhere, your GP will still be the first point of contact and can refer you to your local memory clinic. These are usually run by NHS Older Adult Mental Health or Community Mental Health Teams.

Each area may have slightly different waiting times and processes, but most services follow a similar pathway: background information, memory assessments, and brain scans where needed.

You can search for your nearest service by visiting the NHS website or by asking your GP.