Dementia Assessment London
Private dementia assessment in London for memory concerns, diagnostic clarification, and early cognitive change. Sensitive specialist assessment using recognised screening and neuropsychological tools such as MoCA, ACE-III, and broader cognitive testing where appropriate.
Clinically reviewed by
Dr Martina Paglia
Founder & CEO of Mind a Porter
HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologist
Special interests include anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD, burnout, workplace stress, relationship difficulties and high-performance mental wellbeing.
Last reviewed: 13 August 2026
All health information on Mind a Porter is clinically reviewed by our clinical lead. These resources are educational and do not replace professional advice.
Clinical overview: dementia assessment
Dementia assessment is used when memory, language, orientation, decision-making, or everyday functioning appear to be changing in a progressive or concerning way. The key clinical task is not only to identify whether dementia may be present, but also to distinguish this from depression, delirium, medication effects, sleep problems, or other reversible causes of cognitive difficulty.
Prevalence
Around 1 in 11 people over 65 live with dementia, although prevalence varies considerably with age.
Gold-standard tool
Recognised tools may include MoCA, ACE-III, and a broader neuropsychological battery where the presentation requires more detailed clarification.
Typical timeline
Often 1 or 2 appointments plus collateral history and a written report, with onward recommendations depending on the findings.
About dementia assessment
What is a private dementia assessment?
A private dementia assessment is a structured evaluation of memory, thinking, language, orientation, and day-to-day functioning when there are concerns about cognitive decline. It is used to clarify whether the pattern fits dementia, what type may be most likely, and whether another explanation such as depression, medication effects, sleep problems, or physical illness needs to be considered first.
A good private assessment in London should be both clinically careful and emotionally sensitive. Families are often frightened, and the assessment needs to balance accurate cognitive testing with clear communication, appropriate collateral history, and a calm explanation of what the pattern does or does not suggest at this stage.
Even when dementia is not confirmed, the assessment can still be highly valuable. It may show that memory problems reflect anxiety, grief, low mood, burnout, hearing difficulty, or another potentially treatable cause. When dementia is supported, the outcome helps families plan more confidently and access the right onward medical, psychological, and practical support.
Signs and indicators
Common reasons people seek dementia assessment
Not every memory concern is dementia, but these are the kinds of changes that often prompt a fuller assessment.
Repeated memory lapses
Forgetting recent conversations, appointments, or decisions becomes more frequent and harder to explain by ordinary stress.
Word-finding or language change
People may notice more difficulty naming things, following conversation, or expressing ideas clearly.
Disorientation
There may be growing confusion around dates, routes, sequences, or familiar tasks that were previously manageable.
Executive change
Planning, judgment, sequencing, and coping with everyday complexity can become more difficult.
Functional decline
Finances, medication management, shopping, cooking, or administrative tasks may require more support than before.
Personality or behavioural change
Apathy, irritability, suspiciousness, reduced social judgment, or marked withdrawal can sometimes accompany cognitive change.
Concern raised by family
Often the person is partly aware, but relatives or close friends have noticed clearer changes over time.
Need to distinguish normal ageing from illness
Assessment can help clarify whether the pattern is expected age-related change, another health issue, or something more significant.
Assessment process
What happens in a dementia assessment?
The assessment looks at both cognitive testing and real-world change over time rather than treating one screening score as the whole answer.
Clinical history
The clinician explores the nature of the change, when it began, how it has progressed, and how it affects everyday life.
Collateral information
Where possible, a family member or close informant helps describe changes that may not be obvious in the appointment itself.
Cognitive screening
Recognised tools such as MoCA or ACE-III may be used to screen memory, language, attention, and orientation.
Broader testing where needed
If the picture is complex, more detailed neuropsychological assessment may be recommended to clarify the pattern.
Differential diagnosis
The clinician considers depression, anxiety, medication effects, sleep problems, delirium, and other reversible or overlapping causes.
Feedback and next steps
You receive a clear explanation, written report, and guidance about medical referral, support planning, or further investigations where appropriate.
Why people get assessed
What a private dementia assessment can help with
Early assessment is often valuable whether the findings do or do not support dementia.
Diagnostic clarity
Differentiate dementia from depression, medication effects, stress, sleep problems, or another cause of cognitive change.
Earlier planning
A clear formulation helps families think ahead about support, medical referral, and practical decision-making.
Targeted onward referral
Assessment can guide whether memory-clinic review, neurology, psychiatry, or broader neuropsychological work is needed.
Emotional containment
Families often feel less frightened when the change is explored carefully and explained clearly rather than left vague.
Often a good fit
Who dementia assessment is especially useful for
Assessment is particularly helpful when there is concern about progressive change rather than a stable lifelong pattern.
Older adults with new memory change
Especially when repeated forgetting, confusion, or language change feels different from usual ageing.
Families seeking clarity
Helpful when relatives are noticing change and need guidance about whether it warrants further memory-clinic or medical referral.
People with diagnostic uncertainty
Useful when the picture could reflect mood, neurological illness, medication, grief, or dementia and needs to be disentangled.
Clients needing a structured report
A clear written formulation can support GP conversations, family planning, and onward referrals.
May not be the first step
When another assessment may answer the question more directly
Sometimes the concern is more developmental or focused on adult attention rather than progressive cognitive change.
Lifelong attention problems
If the difficulty has always been about concentration, restlessness, and executive function rather than a later-life change, ADHD assessment may be more appropriate.
Broader non-progressive cognitive question
If the referral is about memory, attention, and processing without a strong dementia-specific concern, a general cognitive assessment may be the better first route.
Specific literacy difficulty
If the main issue is reading or written language rather than later-life cognitive decline, dyslexia assessment is more appropriate.
Acute delirium or medical emergency
Sudden confusion, collapse, or rapid severe change needs urgent medical assessment rather than planned outpatient testing.
Compared with alternatives
Dementia assessment compared with other private assessments
These routes overlap because memory problems can have many different causes, not all of them degenerative.
Dementia vs Cognitive assessment
Dementia assessment focuses on progressive decline and memory-clinic style questions, while a broader cognitive assessment can explore many possible causes of attention or memory difficulty without assuming dementia as the main explanation.
Best for: Choose dementia assessment when there is concern about later-life decline or functional change over time.
Dementia vs ADHD assessment
ADHD assessment is about a lifelong attentional profile, while dementia assessment is about new or progressive change in memory and thinking.
Best for: Choose dementia assessment when the problem is later-life change rather than a lifelong pattern.
Dementia vs Personality assessment
Personality assessment explains enduring relational and emotional patterns, while dementia assessment looks at acquired cognitive change and functional decline.
Best for: Choose dementia assessment when memory and daily function are the main concerns.
Dementia assessment vs Family therapy
Assessment clarifies the cognitive picture; family therapy can support communication, coping, and relational strain once the situation is better understood.
Best for: Choose assessment first when the family needs a clearer clinical answer.
When to seek help
When is it time to consider an assessment for dementia?
You might be wondering whether a formal assessment is the right step right now. These are some of the signs that a specialist evaluation could provide clarity and direction.
- Difficulties with dementia have been present for months or years and are not explained by stress alone
- Work, study, relationships or daily routines are being affected in ways that feel hard to manage
- You have tried general therapy or self-help but feel you need a clearer clinical picture
- You need formal documentation for workplace adjustments, exam arrangements, or treatment planning
- You want to understand whether your experiences fit a recognised pattern or something else
How dementia assessment is grounded clinically
Careful memory assessment follows NICE NG97 and combines history, collateral information, cognitive testing, and differential diagnosis. It is most useful when it explains the likely pattern clearly and identifies what needs to happen next rather than stopping at a single screening score.
NICE NG97
UK guideline covering dementia assessment, management, and support.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
Alzheimer's Society
Trusted UK information and support for dementia and memory concerns.
Alzheimer's Society
Dementia UK
Family guidance and Admiral Nurse support information.
Dementia UK
NHS dementia overview
Official NHS information on dementia symptoms and next steps.
NHS
Fees & booking
Transparent pricing for dementia assessment london
Clients never pay more with us than going direct, and our therapists offer their best rates.
Clinicians relevant to memory and dementia assessment support
Online via Google MeetMr Param Singh SahniPsychotherapist
I am a UKCP-registered and BACP-accredited psychotherapist with over a decade of clinical experience, offering a warm, collaborative space for adults seeking meaningful change. My practice is informed by an MSc and a breadth of specialist training, allowing me to support clients through a diverse range of challenges including anxiety, depression, neurodivergence, addiction, and complex trauma. As a British Punjabi Sikh therapist, I bring a unique depth to my work, carefully considering the intersections of culture, race, faith, and identity. My expertise spans individual and online therapy, where I integrate modalities such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and Somatic Therapy to meet your specific needs. Whether we are navigating life transitions, relationship dynamics, or professional burnout, my aim is to facilitate genuine understanding. I am committed to providing an inclusive, non-judgemental environment where you can explore your personal history and current experiences to foster lasting emotional growth and wellbeing.
Dr Hasina SarwariClinical Psychologist
I am a HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologist with seventeen years of experience supporting teenagers, adults, seniors, and couples across London and beyond. My practice is built upon a foundation of extensive clinical training, including a DClinPsy, and a diverse range of evidence-based modalities. I have cultivated a broad breadth of expertise, assisting clients with challenges ranging from anxiety, burnout, and PTSD to chronic pain, body image concerns, and complex life transitions. By integrating specialist approaches such as EMDR, EFT, IFS, and somatic therapy alongside traditional frameworks like CBT, ACT, and DBT, I provide a sophisticated, bespoke therapeutic experience. Whether working with individuals, couples, or adolescents, my focus remains on fostering deep, enduring change. I offer a professional, empathetic space where we can navigate your specific circumstances with clinical rigour and human understanding, helping you move towards a more grounded and authentic way of living.
Dr Hei ChangClinical Psychologist
I am a Clinical Psychologist registered with the HCPC and a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society. With over 11 years of experience in clinical practice, I offer a comprehensive range of psychological support, including individual therapy, couples counselling, and specialised assessments for ADHD, autism, and dyslexia. Having lived in the UK for over a decade after relocating from Hong Kong, I bring a culturally informed perspective to my work, supporting children, teenagers, and adults across diverse backgrounds. My clinical expertise spans a breadth of challenges, from managing workplace stress, burnout, and anxiety disorders to navigating complex relationship dynamics and life transitions. I work extensively with clients addressing OCD, trauma, and self-esteem, providing a secure, professional environment for exploration and growth. Whether through in-person sessions or online therapy, I am dedicated to providing nuanced, evidence-based care tailored to your unique needs and goals.
Ms Georgios BligourasPsychotherapist
I am a BACP-registered psychotherapist with a BSc, MSc, and MA, offering individual and group therapy to adults and older adults (65+) in English and Greek, in Brixton. With five years of clinical experience, my practice is grounded in Person-Centred and Experiential Psychotherapy, drawing on Gestalt Therapy, Compassion-Focused Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and Trauma-Informed Therapy. I work with a range of difficulties including depression, burnout, grief and loss, relationship issues, abandonment, low self-esteem, loneliness, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and gaslighting recovery. I also have a particular interest in supporting clients navigating life transitions and those living with personality disorders. Alongside individual work, I offer men's therapy and group therapy, recognising that meaningful change can emerge through authentic relational experience. My aim is to provide a warm, collaborative space where clients can explore challenges, deepen self-understanding, and move towards lasting change.
Ms Mariana BodiuClinical Psychologist
I am a Clinical Psychologist with over 12 years of experience dedicated to aiding individuals, couples, families, and adolescents through life's complexities. Holding both a BSc and MSc in Clinical Psychology, I am registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). My expertise spans various therapeutic modalities including individual and family therapy, as well as psychodynamic and trauma-informed approaches. I have worked extensively in diverse clinical settings, assisting clients with a range of issues such as anxiety, grief, relationship difficulties, and personal growth. I take particular interest in supporting high-functioning professionals on their journey towards meaningful emotional transformation and self-discovery.
Dr Daniela MaroniClinical Psychologist
I am a private Clinical Psychologist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and a fully accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist with the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP). My training began in Italy, where I completed a five-year degree in Clinical and Community Psychology, followed by professional qualification in 2002. I later continued my clinical training in the UK, including at the Tavistock and Portman Clinic, NHS services, and forensic settings. I have completed specialist training in CBT, Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT-A), EMDR (Levels 1–3), Expert Witness Assessment (Cardiff University/Bond Solon), and psychosexual assessment. Over the past 18 years, I have worked across NHS, private practice, legal, and insurance settings. My clinical experience includes mood disorders, PTSD, relationship difficulties, parenting support, and neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism, ADHD, and ADD in both children and adults. I also provide parenting support in neurodevelopment, including initial screening, parent guidance consultations, and support in understanding and navigating appropriate diagnostic pathways for children presenting with possible ADHD or ASD traits. I also have experience in domestic violence services, family court work, and supervision of CBT practitioners and psychologists within the CYP-IAPT framework.
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Frequently asked questions about Dementia Assessment London
What does a private dementia assessment involve?
A private dementia assessment usually includes clinical history, cognitive screening, functional review, and where possible collateral information from someone who knows the person well. The aim is to clarify whether the pattern fits dementia and what other causes may need to be considered.
Can dementia assessment tell the difference between dementia and normal ageing?
That is one of its main purposes. Some forgetting is part of ordinary ageing, but assessment looks at the pattern, severity, progression, and functional impact to help decide whether something more significant may be going on.
Do family members need to attend a dementia assessment?
It is often helpful if a family member or close informant can contribute, because they may have noticed changes over time that are hard to capture in one appointment. However, the clinician can advise on what is most appropriate in each case.
How long does a dementia assessment take?
Many private assessments take place over one or two appointments depending on the complexity of the presentation and whether broader testing is required. A written report and guidance about next steps usually follow once the information has been integrated.
Can depression or anxiety look like dementia?
Yes. Low mood, grief, anxiety, sleep problems, medication effects, and physical illness can all affect memory and concentration. Careful assessment is important precisely because not every memory concern turns out to be dementia.
What happens if the assessment suggests dementia?
You should receive a clear explanation of the findings and guidance about appropriate onward medical review, family planning, and support options. The assessment should help you understand the next step rather than leaving the situation vague.
Can dementia assessment diagnose different types of dementia?
It can help indicate which pattern seems most consistent with Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, or another presentation, but final diagnosis may also involve medical review, imaging, or memory-clinic input.
Is it worth getting assessed early?
Often yes. Early clarity can help rule out treatable causes, support planning, and reduce uncertainty for the person and family even before a full longer-term picture has emerged.
How much does a private dementia assessment cost in London, what is included, and can I use insurance?
The cost of a private dementia assessment in London depends on whether you need a brief screening, a full diagnostic assessment, or a more detailed report for a GP, school, university, employer, or another clinician. Many assessments include a clinical interview, standardised questionnaires or testing, feedback on the findings, and a written report, but the exact scope and report turnaround time vary by service. Some insurers reimburse private psychological assessment when it is clinically indicated, although cover rules differ by policy, so it is important to confirm reimbursement, excess, and authorisation requirements before booking.
This page is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are concerned about dementia assessment london, please speak with a qualified therapist or your GP. In a crisis, call 999 or Samaritans on 116 123.
Book a dementia assessment with sensitivity and structure
If memory or thinking has changed in a concerning way, a careful private assessment can help clarify what is happening and what support is needed next.
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