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Pre diagnosis
Who can help me if I am worried?
It's normal for your memory to be affected by stress, tiredness, certain illnesses and medicines. But if you're becoming increasingly forgetful, particularly if you're over the age of 65, it's a good idea to talk to a GP about the early signs of dementia.
Dementia is a syndrome (a group of related symptoms) associated with an ongoing decline of brain functioning. There are many different causes of dementia, and many different types.
There are currently around 900,000 people in the UK living with dementia. It mainly affects people over the age of 65.
Dementia is a group of symptoms. It’s caused by different diseases that damage the brain. The symptoms get worse over time and include:
- memory loss
- confusion and needing help with daily tasks
- problems with language and understanding
- changes in behaviour.
They're a vital source of support and a powerful force for change for everyone affected by dementia.
Alzheimer’s Society is here for everyone affected by dementia.
This is a really useful Dementia Guide video from the Alzheimer's Society.
Alzheimer Society - Dementia Connect
If you need dementia support, they're here for you. We know dementia affects everyone differently. So whether you, a loved one, a friend or neighbour is affected by dementia, they're here to support you.
Contact your GP if you are worried about any early dementia symptoms.
The rapid access service team acts as a single point of access for all referrals to older peoples services 365 days a year.
Their team are trained to identify the information that will best answer your questions. This might be by sending you our advice guides or helping you to find local services run by Age UK in your area. If they can’t help, they will direct you to the best place to go for further support and advice.
If you or someone you know is worried about becoming increasingly forgetful, particularly if they're older than 65, you should talk to a GP about the possibility of dementia.