How quick should you see a specialist?

[SoTiredNeedHoliday]

My mother has seen the GP and had a scan and the GP says that there is evidence of blood vessels not getting enough blood through them making the brain shrink. The GP said there is nothing that can be done. She referred her to a specialist but the wait time is 6 months. This seems so long to me. Should we be trying to get her into somewhere sooner?

I have no experience with dementia etc so am on a steep learning curve.

bumping... also interested in answers.
If I'm honest, I don't think anything is proven to delay progression but there are things family/the patient can do to help them cope better with the disease development. Charities help more with this than medical people.

Happy to hear I'm wrong.

bumping just incase anyone has thoughts

We were in a similar position 6 months ago. GP said he suspected there was a concern with DF, but suggested waiting 6 months to see how things developed. DF paid for a private consultation and various scans, which confirmed dementia within a few weeks. In a way, it doesn't make much difference - meds have been prescribed, but I think they're of limited use, and no other care has been offered yet, as I don't think there's much that can be done, medically at least. But given the relative vagueness of the symptoms initially, I do think it was helpful to have some kind of 'answer' as early as possible - I think it changes the way others respond to the symptoms, and helps a little with planning for the future. And it has made us think about trying to access other support sooner than we might otherwise have done. NB unfortunately the symptoms got very much worse well within 6 months, progressing from minor uncertainty to very significant confusion - sadly these things can develop quite rapidly. Sympathies - it's not a nice journey, and we're still only near the beginning of it.

thank you @hamletta your story is exactly what I was thinking might happen. I don't want her to wait and be unsure for 6 months and then to get a diagnosis in 6 months and be highly stressed again about it and possibly have detoriated etc. I think its very traumatic to make someone just wait when there are tests that can be done pretty quickly that will allow her to get her 'ducks in a line' while she is still capable and confident. Plus surely the sooner meds start the better and any other therapy that is suggested.

Has your DF looked into any therapy or been advised to do certain things like exercise etc? I just keep reading exercise and things like art classes to keep them engaged which apparently helps

Would you mind Sending me the private Drs name?

I've PM'd you the doctor's details. We've definitely been told that exercise is important. It's really hard, it feels like we're a bit in limbo atm. He's not bad enough to need 'proper' care yet, but he's bad enough that life is getting difficult in lots of ways. It's like we're just waiting around for it to get worse, not knowing how long that will take, which is a horrible feeling.

I mean, six months is unreasonable. But there is no cure or treatment, and as far as NHS waiting lists go it’s a pretty short one. There are young people with painful and debilitating conditions waiting much longer.