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Private Memory Clinic
What to Expect At a Memory Clinic
The aim of our private memory clinic in London is not only to discover the causes of memory problems, but also provide our patients with the appropriate information, support and treatment to help them live with their condition. At Dementech Neurosciences, we understand that having problems with memory can have a significant impact on the everyday lives or our patients, and so we ensure our diagnosis and treatment processes are easily accessible, accurate and delivered by highly-experienced professionals.
Same Day Consultations
You no longer have to wait to be seen by an expert – we’ll endeavour to provide you with a same day appointment if possible.
Quality Tests, Assessments & Scans
Your initial consultation will involve assessment and diagnosis. You will then receive a management plan, any medication and a full consultation report.
Patient Advisor Consultations
This is an opportunity to discuss your condition where the Patient Advisor will suggest the most appropriate route to suits your specific needs.
Video Consultations Available
Patients who are unable to physically attend our clinic can access video consultations via Skype, FaceTime and WhatsApp.
What Are The Symptoms Of Memory Problems?
Memory problems most commonly affect older adults. While many people will forget things occasionally, in some cases memory lapses can start to have an effect on a person’s everyday life. This is when professional support from a neurology specialist is needed.
Memory problems can vary in terms of their specific symptoms, and there are a range of different diseases that can cause people to have issues with cognition. Below we list some of the most common symptoms of memory problems:
- Repeatedly asking the same questions
- Misplacing items
- Forgetting common words or mixing up words when speaking
- Taking a long time to complete familiar or basic tasks
- Getting lost in familiar areas
- Frequent or irrational mood or behaviour changes
What Can Cause Memory Problems?
Mild memory loss generally increases with age, but there are some situations in which memory problems can begin to worsen, as well as some common, uncontrollable factors. Below we list some common causes of long and short term memory problems:
- Sleep deprivation
- Use of alcohol, drugs and some prescription medications
- Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation
- Head injuries, concussions and migraines
- Mental health disorders
- Neurodegenerative illnesses such as Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), or Parkinson’s disease
- Vitamin B-12 deficiency
As mentioned, there are also a number of diseases that can cause people to experience memory problems, from Dementia to Mild Cognitive Impairment. You can find details of these diseases in the following section of this page.
What Is The Treatment For Memory Problems?
Since there are a number of issues that can lead to memory problems, treatments can vary. In some cases, medications can be prescribed that have a significant impact on the rate of memory loss. For others, treating related conditions such as depression, anxiety or sleeping problems can lead to improvements in memory.
At Dementech Neurosciences, we take a unique, multidisciplinary approach to the treatments and the management of symptoms relating to memory problems. Our in-house experts include highly-trained neurologists and other specialist doctors and researchers, all playing their part in providing world-class treatment for our patients.
Book an appointment now if you would like to see one of our specialists about your memory loss issues, or find out more about the diagnosis and treatment processes here at Dementech Neurosciences.
Do I Have a Memory Problem?
It is perfectly normal to have occasional memory lapses and to lose things. It is normal to forget why we have gone upstairs, or to come back from a shopping trip without the very thing we went for. It is normal to have to search our brain for a name, sometimes. Having these experiences does not necessarily mean you have a serious memory problem. Our normal memory may suffer from impaired function through inattention, information overload or mild depression from time to time.
Unless there is something wrong, we retain a huge store of general (semantic) knowledge, an ability to plan and manage our affairs and, under normal circumstances, we retain our orientation in time and place. Only when you begin to see memory lapses having a significant impact on your day to day life may you need to see a specialist. If you are unsure about the specific signs you need to look out for, you can get an initial consultation with one of our neurology experts.
Blood Tests
In our Memory Clinic we will arrange for blood tests to help exclude other causes of symptoms that can be confused with dementia.
In most cases, these blood tests will check:
| Lliver function | ✓ |
| Kidney function | ✓ |
| Thyroid function | ✓ |
| Haemoglobin A1c (to check for diabetes) | ✓ |
| Vitamin B12 and folate levels | ✓ |
| Urine test | ✓ |
Mental Ability Tests
People with symptoms of dementia are given several different tests to check their mental abilities, such as memory or thinking. Most tests involve a series of pen-and-paper tests and questions, each of which carries a score.
These tests assess a number of mental abilities, including:
| Short and long-term memory | ✓ |
| Concentration and attention span | ✓ |
| Language and communication skills | ✓ |
| Awareness of time and place (orientation) | ✓ |
Dementia brain scans
Brain scans are often used for diagnosing dementia once the simpler tests have ruled out other problems. Memory tests on their own brain scans can’t diagnose dementia, but are used as part of the wider assessment.
These brain scans may also be used to check for evidence of other possible problems that could explain a person’s symptoms, such as a stroke or a brain tumour.
An MRI scan is recommended to:
- help confirm a diagnosis of dementia and the type of disease causing the dementia
- provide detailed information about the blood vessel damage that occurs in vascular dementia
- show shrinkage in specific areas of the brain – for example, the frontal and temporal lobes are mainly affected by shrinkage in frontotemporal dementia, while usually just the temporal lobes are affected in the early stages of Alzheimer’s
A CT scan can be used to check for signs of stroke or a brain tumour. But it can’t provide detailed information about the structure of the brain.
Even if a brain scan doesn’t show any obvious changes, this doesn’t mean someone doesn’t have dementia.
Other scans to diagnose dementia
Other types of scan, such as a PET scan, may be recommended if the result of your MRI or CT scan is uncertain.
What Diseases Affect A Person's Memory?
There are many reasons why people experience memory problems. Commonly it is simply due to age, but sometimes it can be caused by other conditions. These can include stress, mental health disorders, or the early stages of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Find out more about the specific diseases that can affect a person’s memory below.
Dementia
Dementia is a disease that can present in a variety of ways, with symptoms mostly affecting memory and behaviour. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia.
Dementia
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a degenerative brain disease and the most common cause of dementia.
Dementia
MCI is a condition in which an individual has mild but measurable problems with memory, language, thinking or judgement.
Get Support for Your Memory Problems Today
Meet Our Doctors
Dr Tahira Choudry – Consultant Neurologist
Neurologist
Dr. Giacomo Chiaro – Consultant Neurologist
Neurologist
Prof. K. Ray Chaudhuri – Parkinson’s Specialist in London
Medical & Scientific Advisory Board
Neurologist
Parkinson's Disease
Have a Question We Haven't Covered?
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Our team is on hand to answer any questions or concerns that you may have. Simply fill in the form below with your details, and we will get back to you very soon.
Have a Question?
Speak to Specialists at Our Private Memory Clinic in London
Our team is on hand to answer any questions or concerns that you may have. Simply fill in the form below with your details, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
How Will Dementech Support You
If You Are Suffering with Memory Problems?
The primary aim of our private memory clinic is to assess the causes of our patient’s memory problems and provide them with the appropriate information, support and treatment that they need to help them to live well and independently.
Our private memory clinic in London is home to various expert neurologists, who can support our patients with memory problems by providing same-day consultations, assessments and scans and offering ongoing support. Our state-of-the-art technology together with our years of research will ensure each patient receives the most accurate diagnosis and most effective treatment available.
Get Support for Your Memory Problems Today