Please could someone explain how they diagnose which type of dementia a person has? Do they make an educated guess from specific symptoms and then confirm with a scan? Can all dementia types even be spotted on a scan? If not, are there other ways to tell?
I’ve been reading about the different types and some seem to have different or specific symptoms to others. Can symptoms alone suggest a type?
My mum is about to start the diagnostic process but there seems a long wait and I have no idea of what tests they’ll do, what scans, or if most people are just diagnosed by a consultant’s expertise.
Also, I’ve seen private dementia screens advertised - is that a good idea or a waste of money? Is a private referral to a hospital consultant more sensible? And, if so, what kind of figure are we talking about for a private scan?
Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.
Dementia and Alzheimer's
Dementia - which type?
BreatheAndFocus · 31/01/2024 19:22
BreatheAndFocus · 31/01/2024 22:16
Thank you for that @greenbeansnspinach Much appreciated. Do you know if the scan diagnosed the vascular dementia or the Alzheimers, or both?
tobyj · 31/01/2024 23:23
I think that the type of dementia can't necessarily be definitively identified until post mortem, but a combination of scans plus symptoms can give a very good indication. My relative has Lewy Body Dementia, which was diagnosed by a private consultant following observations and questionnaire plus a private DAT scan. The consultant was basically certain about the type of dementia but still gave a diagnosis of 'likely' LBD, as there's no definitive proof. Previously, the NHS consultant had given a vaguer 'maybe Parkinsons but let's watch and wait' diagnosis, so I think the private appointment did speed things up considerably.
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.