Talking about dementia isn't easy. But opening up about symptoms and taking that step to seek help can make a real difference. For the person experiencing changes, and for the people who love them.
For most people, the early signs of Alzheimer's disease arrive quietly. Small shifts in memory, moments of confusion, changes in behaviour that are easy to dismiss or explain away. But when those changes start to feel more frequent, speaking to a doctor sooner rather than later matters.
Pat's story
Pat was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2022. When he noticed his memory wasn't quite right, he made the decision to find out why.
His reason was simple and deeply personal:
"I didn't want to get to the stage my father was, where it was too late."
What Pat found, like so many others who have been through the diagnostic journey, was that knowing, even when the news is hard, gave him something to hold on to.
What earlier diagnosis can give you
Time is perhaps the most precious thing an earlier diagnosis offers. Time to understand, to plan, and to make choices that feel right for you and your family.
Time to make sense of things - a diagnosis can bring clarity after months, or even years, of uncertainty. Understanding what is happening is the first step to knowing what comes next.
Time to find the right support - earlier diagnosis opens the door to specialists, support services, and, in some cases, treatments that may help slow progression or manage symptoms.
Time to plan on your own terms - knowing what you are facing allows you and your family to make decisions together, about care, daily life, and the future.
The reality today
Despite how much early diagnosis matters, too many people are still waiting too long for answers.
Around 1 in 3 people living with dementia in the UK still do not have a diagnosis.1 And even for those who are referred for assessment, the path to a confirmed diagnosis can be slow, leaving people and families without the support and guidance they need.
That is something we believe needs to change.
A better way forward
Advances in biomarker testing and diagnostic innovation are providing new ways to detect and understand Alzheimer's disease earlier and more accurately than ever before. Alzheimer's disease is one of the greatest health challenges of our time. Raising awareness, encouraging people to speak to their GP about symptoms, and giving them earlier access to a diagnosis by improving patient pathways will provide those living with Alzheimer’s with the invaluable gift of time.
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References
1. Primary Care Dementia Data, March 2026 Available: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/primary-care-dementia-data/march-2026 Last accessed May 2026