Decision-making guide for GPs

A decision-making guide for GPs, endorsed by the Royal College of GPs, to aid the recognition of the symptoms of dementia in younger people.

The Young Dementia Network worked with GPs to create this guide because accurate and timely diagnosis is an essential part of living as well as possible with young onset dementia.

Receiving a diagnosis is a first step towards accessing treatment, support, information and advice to help you and your family adjust to life with dementia.  But it currently takes twice as long – on average over four years – for a younger person to receive a diagnosis as it does for an older person.

This diagnostic guide is designed to support GPs to identify the most common signs and symptoms of young onset and rarer forms of dementia and identify ‘red flags’ which suggest referral to specialist diagnostic services may be required.