How is dementia diagnosed?

    Written by:

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    Dementia is diagnosed by ruling out reversible causes through an assessment of medical history and health status. Diagnosis may involve physical examinations, cognitive tests, blood tests, and brain imaging because there is no definitive test for dementia.

    There is no definitive test for dementia. To make a diagnosis, a healthcare provider must first rule out reversible causes of dementia based on assessing a person’s medical history and overall health status. Physical examinations, cognitive tests, blood tests, and brain imaging may all be used to make the diagnosis.

    How is dementia diagnosed? - Examine