A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease requires clinical and pathological evidence. In clinical practice, GPs should consider a diagnosis of dementia when a patient presents with functional impairment (e.g. needing a greater level of help with activities of daily living, struggling to manage own finances and bills) in addition to at least two changes in cognitive function e.g. short-term memory, language, reasoning, spatial orientation, or personality change. The patient, friends, family or professional carers should have noticed these changes for at least six months. Early diagnosis enables early, planned intervention, reduces crisis situations, delays planned admission to care homes (and helps prevent unplanned admissions).