Memory assessment (memory clinic)
A set of appointments and tests that look into memory and thinking problems, to find out what is causing them and what help might be needed.
✓ Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant · last reviewed September 2026 · next review September 2027 · how we review
In short
- A memory assessment finds out what is behind memory or thinking problems — it is a way of understanding, not a treatment in itself.
- There is no single test; the answer is not always clear at the first visit, and sometimes a follow-up months later is needed to be sure.
- Some causes of memory trouble can be treated or reversed, so the assessment looks for these as well as for dementia.
- Bringing someone who knows you well, and a list of your medicines, makes the assessment far more useful.
A plain-English summary. The detail — including risks and recovery — is below.
At a glance
A general guide. Your psychiatrist will give you advice for your situation.
Gives a clearer understanding of what is causing memory or thinking problems
Sudden confusion that has come on over hours or days — this suggests delirium from illness or infection and needs urgent medical assessment, not a routine...
You may feel tired or unsettled after the tests. The team may share a first impression, but often a full answer comes later once all the results are back.
A clear, plain-English explanation of the findings and what they do and do not mean.
You may feel tired or unsettled after the tests. The team may share a first impression, but often a full answer...
Blood results and any scan are reviewed together. A diagnosis or explanation is usually given, with a letter to...
If a medicine for Alzheimer's-type dementia is started, it is introduced slowly and reviewed for benefit and side...
The clinic may suggest watching symptoms and reassessing in several months, as changes over time often make the...
What is a memory assessment (memory clinic)?
A memory assessment is a careful look into problems with memory, thinking, language or day-to-day coping. It is usually carried out at a memory clinic (sometimes called a memory assessment service) by a team that may include an old age psychiatrist, a doctor for older people (geriatrician), a specialist nurse, a psychologist or a neurologist.
There is no single test for dementia. Instead, the team builds up a picture from your history, from talking to someone who knows you well, from pen-and-paper tests of memory and thinking, from blood tests, and sometimes from a brain scan. The aim is to work out whether there is a problem, how big it is, and what is causing it.
Not every memory problem is dementia. Stress, low mood, poor sleep, thyroid problems, vitamin shortages, some medicines, alcohol and sudden illness can all affect memory — and several of these can be put right. A good assessment looks for these too.
An assessment does not, on its own, treat anything. What it gives you is an explanation, access to support and planning, and — where a treatable cause or a treatable type of dementia is found — a route to the right next step.
Types, options & approaches
There may be different ways to do this. The right approach depends on the clinical question and your circumstances.
Options at a glance
These are the main approaches described in this guide. The right option depends on the diagnosis, your goals and what your clinician thinks is safe.
History and collateral history
The most important part. The clinician asks about your symptoms, how they started and how they affect daily life. They will usually also want to hear from a relative or close...
Cognitive (pen-and-paper) tests
Short tests of memory, attention, language and orientation. GPs often use a brief one such as the GPCOG; clinics may use longer tests. Scores can be affected by education...
Physical check and blood tests
Blood tests look for treatable causes that can mimic dementia, such as thyroid problems, vitamin B12 or folate shortage, infection, kidney or liver issues, or diabetes. A...
Brain scan
A CT or MRI scan is often arranged to look for strokes, bleeding, a tumour or patterns of shrinkage. A scan supports the picture but cannot diagnose dementia on its own; a...
Preparing for your test
- Bring someone who knows you well; their account of any changes is one of the most useful parts of the assessment.
- Write down the problems you have noticed, when they started, and examples from daily life.
- Bring an up-to-date list of all your medicines, including anything bought over the counter.
- Bring your glasses and hearing aids, and wear them during the tests, as poor eyesight or hearing can lower scores unfairly.
- Note any recent life events — bereavement, illness, a hospital stay, low mood or poor sleep — as these affect memory.
- Write down questions you want to ask, and a note to remember any medical words the team uses.
- If a brain scan is planned, mention any metal implants, a pacemaker, or whether you find small spaces difficult.
What happens
The clinician will talk with you (and, where possible, the person who came with you) about your memory and thinking, your physical health, your mood and how you are managing day to day. This conversation is usually the most important part.
You will then be asked to do some pen-and-paper tests — for example remembering words, copying a drawing, naming things, or saying the date and where you are. These are not meant to catch you out; the team simply needs to see how different parts of your thinking are working.
Most people will have blood tests and a physical check. A brain scan is often arranged for another day. The team may give you a first impression at the visit, but a clear answer can take longer, especially if scans or further tests are needed.
Afterwards, the findings are usually explained to you, a letter is sent to your GP, and a plan is agreed — which may be support and review, treatment of a reversible cause, starting a medicine, or watching and reassessing over time.
Is this test right for me?
A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.
May not be suitable if…
- Sudden confusion that has come on over hours or days — this suggests delirium from illness or infection and needs urgent medical assessment, not a routine memory clinic.
- Someone who is acutely unwell, in pain, or has a new physical illness — treat the illness first, then reassess memory once they are stable.
- Where the real need is for an urgent mental-health response, such as a person at immediate risk to themselves or others.
- Where untreated depression, severe anxiety or alcohol use is the likely cause and should be addressed first.
Delay or rearrange if…
- There is a current infection, delirium, or recent hospital stay affecting thinking.
- The person is in crisis or distress that needs to be settled before testing.
- Key information is missing, such as no one to give a collateral history, or an incomplete medication list.
- Severe untreated low mood, poor sleep or alcohol use may be skewing the picture.
- Eyesight or hearing problems mean test scores would not be reliable until corrected.
Alternatives to discuss
- A GP review first, to treat reversible causes such as thyroid problems, vitamin shortage or low mood.
- A period of watchful waiting with a planned review if symptoms are mild.
- The NHS memory service rather than private assessment, if speed is not the main concern.
- A mood and mental-health assessment if depression or anxiety seems the likely cause.
- Referral to neurology rather than a memory clinic for some younger people or unusual symptoms.
Before you decide
Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.
What matters most to me?
Think about symptoms, daily life, work, caring responsibilities, sport, fertility, travel, appearance and anxiety — the right choice depends on your priorities, not just the medical facts.
What are all my options?
Ask about waiting, monitoring, medicines, rehabilitation, a smaller or larger procedure, a different test, NHS referral, or a second opinion where that would help.
What would make me pause?
Active infection, pregnancy, unstable medical problems, smoking, medicines that increase bleeding, poor support at home, or feeling pressured are all reasons to slow down and get tailored advice.
What happens if I do nothing today?
For some problems, waiting is safe; for others, delay can make treatment harder. A good consultation should explain the trade-off in plain English.
Benefits
- Gives a clearer understanding of what is causing memory or thinking problems
- Looks for treatable or reversible causes, some of which can be put right
- Tells the types of dementia apart, which matters for the right treatment and safety
- Opens the door to support, information and benefits for the person and their family
- Allows planning while decisions can still be made — including legal and financial planning
- Can offer reassurance when problems turn out to be mild or part of normal ageing
Risks & complications
- Finding the tests tiring, upsetting or embarrassing
- Worry while waiting for results or a scan
- An unclear answer at first, needing more tests or a later review
- Scores affected by anxiety, tiredness, eyesight, hearing or language
- A diagnosis that is distressing to hear
- A 'false alarm' where mild changes turn out not to be dementia, after a period of worry
- Effects on driving, work or insurance that need to be thought through
- Disagreement within a family about what the results mean
- A wrong or incomplete first impression that is later revised
- A treatable cause being missed if the assessment is rushed or incomplete
The biggest risk is an incomplete assessment: a brief test alone cannot diagnose dementia, and a sudden change in memory or confusion may be delirium from infection or illness — which can be reversible and needs urgent medical attention, not a memory clinic. Ask how treatable causes have been excluded, and what the plan is if the answer is not yet clear.
Published figures to discuss
A memory assessment is not a procedure with physical complication rates. Its main uncertainties are diagnostic: brief cognitive tests can give false reassurance or false alarms, the cause is not always clear at first, and a single normal scan does not rule out dementia. Where a number is quoted below it is drawn from published sources and describes the wider condition, not a risk of the assessment itself.
| Figure | Reported range | How to interpret it | Source / confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reversible or treatable cause missed | Important | Depression, delirium, medicines, sleep apnoea, alcohol, thyroid and B12 problems can mimic dementia. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
| Diagnosis uncertain after initial clinic | Common | Follow-up, informant history, imaging or neuropsychology may be needed, especially in early or atypical cases. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
| Driving and safety issues not addressed | Avoidable | Medication management, cooking, falls, finances, driving and scams should be reviewed after diagnosis. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
| Carer needs overlooked | Common | Memory-clinic care should include information, support, legal planning and signposting for carers. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.
What happens afterwards
There is no physical recovery from a memory assessment. What matters afterwards is understanding the findings, getting the right support, and knowing what happens next.
- Feeling tired or low for a day or two after a long assessment
- Needing time to take in what you were told
- Waiting a few weeks for scan results and a full picture
- Being asked to come back later if the first visit was not conclusive
- Mixed feelings — sometimes relief, sometimes upset — whatever the result
Aftercare
- Make sure you understand the explanation; ask for it in writing or in plain words if needed.
- Ask who your point of contact is and how to reach them with questions.
- Keep any follow-up or review appointments, especially if the answer was not yet clear.
- If a medicine is started, take it as directed and report side effects rather than stopping suddenly.
- Look into support early — many people find an Admiral Nurse or local dementia adviser helpful.
- Think about planning ahead: lasting power of attorney, finances and future wishes, while decisions can still be made.
- Tell the driving licence authority and your insurer if you are told this affects your driving — this is the DVLA if you live in England, Scotland or Wales, or the DVA if you live in Northern Ireland. There are legal duties here.
- Bring a relative or close friend to the appointment
- List of all current medicines
- Notes on symptoms, with dates and examples
- Glasses and hearing aids
- Questions written down in advance
- A way to record what you are told
- Details of recent illnesses, falls or hospital stays
⚠ Get urgent help if…
- Sudden confusion, or a clear change in alertness over hours or days — this may be delirium from infection or illness and needs urgent medical help, not a routine wait
- A sudden weakness, drooping face, slurred speech or loss of vision — call 999, as this could be a stroke
- Thoughts of harming yourself, or feeling you cannot go on — contact your GP urgently or call Samaritans on 116 123; call 999 if there is immediate danger
- Severe agitation, distress or fear that cannot be settled
- A fall with a head injury, or new severe headache
- Not eating or drinking, or rapid weight loss
- Becoming unable to manage safely alone — for example leaving the gas on or getting lost
Who to contact: your clinician, clinic or test provider first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.
General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your psychiatrist gives you.
Results & realistic expectations
A 'result' here is an explanation and a plan, not a single number. It may be reassurance that there is no dementia, a treatable cause that can be addressed, a diagnosis of a particular type of dementia, or an honest 'not yet clear, let us review'.
It is important to know what the assessment cannot do. It cannot predict exactly how things will change, it cannot rule out every condition, and a normal scan or a reasonable test score does not guarantee that nothing is wrong. The picture is built from everything together and may need revisiting over time.
Memory and thinking can change over time, so an assessment is a snapshot. If symptoms change, a fresh review may be needed — sometimes to confirm a diagnosis that was uncertain, sometimes to check whether treatment is still helping. Many people are seen again at intervals rather than just once.
Related tests, treatments or support
A memory assessment is often combined with a mood assessment, because depression and anxiety in older people can look like memory problems and can be treated. Blood tests, a brain scan and a medication review commonly go together as part of the same work-up.
Follow-up & long-term care
After the assessment, a letter usually goes to your GP, and the clinic agrees who will follow you up and how often. If treatment is started or the diagnosis is uncertain, review appointments are arranged. You should be told who to contact between appointments.
- Regular review of memory, mood, safety and how you are coping day to day
- Medication review if a dementia medicine or other drugs are being taken
- Re-checking treatable factors such as thyroid, B12, blood pressure and hearing
- Updating plans for support, care and legal matters as needs change
Repeat, follow-on and what comes next
- The first impression is sometimes revised once scans and blood results are back, or as symptoms change over time.
- An uncertain assessment may be repeated after several months, because change over time often clarifies the picture.
- A diagnosis of the type of dementia may be refined later, which can matter for treatment and safety.
Ask what happens if the result is unclear or needs repeating, and what is included if further tests or follow-up are needed.
What good aftercare looks like
- A clear, plain-English explanation of the findings and what they do and do not mean.
- A named point of contact and a way to ask questions between appointments.
- A written plan, a letter to the GP, and review arranged if the diagnosis is uncertain or treatment is started.
- Signposting to support for both the person and their family, such as Admiral Nurses or a local dementia adviser.
- Honest advice on driving, planning ahead and legal matters, given with compassion.
What affects the cost
Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:
- Length and number of appointments, and whether a specialist consultant leads the assessment
- Which cognitive tests are used and whether detailed psychological testing is included
- Blood tests and any physical investigations
- Whether a brain scan (CT or MRI) is arranged, and who reports it
- Whether specialist scans (such as SPECT or DaTscan) are needed
- Follow-up appointments and the writing of reports or letters
- The consultant or clinician's fee for the assessment
- The cost of cognitive testing and any psychology input
- Blood tests and who arranges and interprets them
- Any scan fee and the radiologist's reporting fee
- Follow-up appointments and review
- Reports, letters and communication with your GP
- What happens, and what it costs, if the answer is unclear and more tests are needed
On the NHS? Memory assessment is widely available on the NHS when there is a clinical need, usually through a GP referral; private assessment is mostly used for speed, choice or a second opinion.
You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including reports, follow-up and what happens if the result is inconclusive — before you decide.
Consent traps and marketing red flags
These are not small details. They are often where patients lose choice, time to reflect, or realistic expectations.
Consent traps
- Being given a diagnosis from a brief test alone, without bloods, a scan or a collateral history.
- No clear explanation that some causes of memory problems are treatable or reversible.
- Not being told who will see the report, or what it means for driving, work and insurance.
- No plan for what happens if the answer is unclear.
- No discussion of support for the person and their family alongside any diagnosis.
Marketing red flags
- A 'same-day dementia diagnosis' or a 'one test that detects dementia' — there is no single test.
- A 'memory MOT' or blood test sold as ruling dementia in or out on its own.
- Promises of certainty when the honest answer is that the picture takes time to clarify.
- Selling a scan as a stand-alone diagnosis without a proper clinical assessment.
Choosing a specialist safely
- Check the psychiatrist is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
- Make sure they work at a CQC-registered service, and look for membership of the relevant Royal College or professional body.
- You're entitled to time to consider and to have your questions answered before you agree — the psychiatrist who looks after you should explain it, not a salesperson.
- Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
- You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including any follow-up — before you decide.
Questions to ask your medical professional
Take this to your consultation. A good psychiatrist will welcome every one of these.
- What do you think is causing my memory problems, and how sure are you?
- Have treatable causes — like thyroid, vitamin levels, mood or medicines — been checked?
- Will I need a brain scan, and what are you looking for?
- If it is not clear yet, what is the plan and when will I be seen again?
- What does this mean for driving, work and planning ahead?
- Who is my point of contact, and how do I get support for me and my family?
- Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
- Will you be the psychiatrist who carries out my test, and who looks after me afterwards?
- What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
- What does a realistic result look like — and what can this test not achieve?
- What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
- Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
- What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a memory assessment on the NHS?
Does a poor test score mean I have dementia?
What if the cause turns out to be treatable?
How long until I get an answer?
Should I bring someone with me?
Will this affect my driving?
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How we made this page
Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →
Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.
Sources & standards: NHS — Tests for diagnosing dementia NHS — How to get a dementia diagnosis NICE NG97 — Dementia: assessment, management and support Alzheimer's Society — Types of dementia Dementia UK — Tests for dementia Royal College of Psychiatrists — Memory problems and dementia DVLA — Assessing fitness to drive DVA Northern Ireland — Tell DVA about a medical condition
Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.
Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.
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