DementiaRoadmap

Promoting living well with dementia across Scotland

Diagnosing well

Diagnosing dementia can be difficult, particularly in the early stages. The GP is usually the first person to contact if you are worried that you, or a family member may be developing dementia. The GP will carry out come physical health checks to make sure the person doesn’t have any underlying conditions that need treatment. They may also do a brief test of memory and other cognitive functions. The GP will consider whether to refer the person to a Community Mental Health Team for a more detailed assessment. In some circumstances, the GP may refer the person to a Neurology department for further investigations .

The Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) usually asks one of their nurses to carry out an assessment. This will include asking about the person’s medical, social and work history. They will also carry out a cognitive test to get an overview of what kind of problems the person is having. This information is then shared with the CMHT and a decision will be made about any further assessments that are need. The might include:

Psychiatry – the psychiatrist may recommend a brain scan to check the structure of the brain. They may also want to discuss the results of the nurse’s assessment.

Occupational Therapy – a functional assessment with an Occupational Therapist can determine the extent a memory impairment can have on a person’s day to day life. They may conduct a functional assessment within the person’s home to assess current skills, abilities and support needs. They can recommend aids and adaptations for the home to to help maintain the person’s independence and may be able to suggest compensatory strategies to minimise the impact of memory loss upon daily life. An Occupational Therapist may also be asked to carry out an assessment of a person’s driving ability.

Clinical Psychology – a Clinical Psychologist may be asked to do a very detailed assessment of how the brain is working. This is called a Neuropsychological Assessment. They may also be asked to consider whether he person would benefit from having some psychological therapy if the nurse’s assessment has highlighted other mental health related difficulties.

 

Information
Services

Information

  • Timely Diagnosis of DementiaTimely Diagnosis of Dementia -With a timely diagnosis, treatment and support, many people can continue to lead active and fulfilled lives.
  • Dementia SubtypesDementia Subtypes - A range of information on the different forms of dementia from Alzheimer Scotland, Alzheimer’s Society and Dementia UK.
  • Rare Dementia SupportRare Dementia Support offer a range of support services for people living with affected by rare dementia diagnoses.
  • SIGN GuidelinesThe guideline covers: the identification and diagnosis of dementia, investigative procedures, post-diagnostic support, non-pharmacological distressed behaviours, grief and dementia, the changing needs of people with dementia, and palliative approaches.
  • Stress and DementiaInformation about the link between stress and dementia
  • Dementia ToolkitDementia Toolkit for assessment, diagnosis, care and support for people with dementia and their carers developed by Improvement Scotland / Right Decision Service
  • Primary Care – GP DetailsIf you are worried about your memory, you should contact your GP for an assessment. Please find here the contact details for your local health services
  • The Many Faces of DementiaThis online course enables you to gain a unique insight into dementia through the stories, symptoms and science behind four less common diagnoses of dementia, the people involved and the implications of these for our wider understanding.
  • Do I see what you see?In this film, produced by Created Out Of Mind, people share stories and experiences of living with Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA), a rare form of dementia that commonly affects vision.
  • Dementia Strategy ScotlandThe National Dementia Strategy maintains a focus on improving the quality of care for people living with dementia and their families through work on diagnosis, including post-diagnostic support.
  • Prevalence of dementia in population groups by protected characteristics: a systematic review of the literatureThis literature review published by Public Health England examines evidence on how the prevalence of dementia varies with different characteristics, such as ethnicity, gender and religion.
  • Younger people with dementiaThis factsheet published by the Alzheimer's Society explores at the types of dementia that younger people under 65 years of age may have, some of the difficulties that they might experience and where support can be found.
  • Frontotemporal dementiaThis article published in the British Medical Journal highlights some of the issues pertinent to Frontotemporal dementia, a clinically and pathologically heterogeneous group of non-Alzheimer dementias characterised collectively by relatively selective, progressive atrophy involving the frontal or temporal lobes, or both.
  • Services for younger people with DementiaPeople who develop early onset dementia in their 40s, 50s or early 60s, or sometimes younger, often have different needs from older people. Alzheimer Scotland provides specialist support, activities and groups for people with dementia under 65 in some areas. Visit the links in this page to find out what is available in your area.
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Services