Keep a memory symptom diary by recording each noticeable change, when it happened, how long it lasted, and how it affected daily life. Start at least a week before the dementia appointment, then bring the diary for the clinician to review. A diary is a dated record of symptoms and their practical effects. It can help a GP understand when changes began and how they affect the person, according to the Alzheimer's Society's guidance on dementia assessments.
Medical information disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a physician or other qualified health professional about symptoms, medications, tests, or treatment decisions.
Table of Contents
- What to record in each entry
- Show the effect on daily life
- Look for timing and patterns
- Add health, medication, and life changes
- Prepare the diary for the appointment
What to record in each entry
Describe what happened in specific, neutral language. Include changes involving memory, mood, behaviour, routines, or eating, along with their frequency and any apparent trigger, as recommended by the Alzheimer's Association. Use a simple format: For example, "Forgot an appointment" gives little context.
A more useful entry is: "Tuesday, 10 a.m.: Forgot a planned dentist appointment despite a calendar note and reminder that morning. This was the second missed appointment this month." Write what you observed rather than guessing at a cause. "Asked the same question five times in 20 minutes" is clearer than "seemed confused because of dementia.".
- Date and approximate time
- What happened
- How long it lasted
- Whether it has happened before
- What occurred just beforehand
Show the effect on daily life
Record what the person could not do, did differently, or needed help completing. Clinicians may ask whether changes interfere with washing, dressing, cooking, shopping, or paying bills, according to the NHS dementia diagnosis guide.
Useful examples include: Add enough context to show whether the event was unusual. Note what the person normally manages independently and what assistance was needed this time.
- Left a pan unattended while cooking
- Needed help choosing suitable clothes
- Bought the same groceries twice
- Missed a regular bill or paid it more than once
- Needed prompting to wash or dress
Look for timing and patterns
Record symptoms as soon as practical so that details do not depend on memory later. Note whether a change happened once, occasionally, or repeatedly, and whether it appeared at a particular time of day or during a specific activity. Starting at least a week before a routine appointment allows time to notice patterns and add concerns you initially forgot.
For every symptom, consider duration, possible triggers, and anything that seemed to improve or worsen it. Do not force a pattern where none is clear. Write "no obvious trigger" or "duration unknown" instead of leaving the clinician to interpret a blank space.
Add health, medication, and life changes
Create a separate timeline for events that may provide useful context. Include new illnesses, operations, emergency or specialist visits, medication changes, reactions, bereavement, or a move. Also note meaningful changes in appetite, weight, sleep, or energy, following the National Institute on Aging's appointment-preparation guidance.
Bring a complete medication record alongside the diary. List prescription medicines, over-the-counter products, vitamins, and herbal supplements, including recent changes and any observed reactions. Keep observations and medication details separate when the connection is uncertain. For example: "New medicine started Monday; unusual daytime sleepiness noted Tuesday and Wednesday" reports the sequence without claiming that one caused the other.
Prepare the diary for the appointment
Review the diary before the visit and mark the changes that most disrupt daily life. If the record is long, prepare a one-page summary showing when symptoms began, how often they occur, and which abilities have changed. A trusted person who knows the patient well may attend.
They can describe changes the patient has not noticed and help remember what the clinician discusses. Bring the original diary, the summary, and the medication list. A symptom record supports communication but cannot diagnose dementia; similar changes can have other causes, and diagnosis requires clinical assessment and testing.
