IS IT NORMAL FORGETFULNESS...
OR DEMENTIA?
It’s common to worry about your own memory, especially if someone close to you has dementia. You might forget an old friend’s birthday, misplace your car keys, or leave the store without the item you went to buy. But when is forgetfulness just part of normal aging—and when is it a warning sign of something more serious?
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Below are seven ways to help distinguish normal age-related memory changes from signs of dementia. This information is not meant to diagnose but to guide your understanding.
1. Do Reminders Work?
Forgetting names, dates, or items on your to-do list happens to everyone. If a reminder helps you recall the information, your forgetfulness is likely part of normal aging. If reminders do not work, and you’re still unable to recall information even with prompting, it may be a sign of dementia.
2. Can Memories Be Recalled?
Recall naturally takes longer as we age, but a healthy brain can usually remember eventually.
If even repeated reminders don’t help you recall, it may indicate dementia rather than normal aging.
3. Do Memory Tools Help?
Most people rely on calendars, contact lists, or phone apps to remember things. If you can still use these tools successfully, your memory loss is likely normal. If you can no longer use memory tools effectively, this could be a sign of dementia.
4. Is Forgetfulness Repeated?
With normal memory, you’re more likely to remember a name or detail after being reminded once or twice. If the same reminders must be repeated again and again, it could signal dementia.
5. Is Personality Stable?
Memory lapses can be frustrating, but with normal aging your personality usually stays the same.
If significant personality changes occur—such as sudden anger in someone who has always been calm—combined with memory issues, it may be a sign of dementia.
6. Are Daily Habits Maintained?
If you can still manage daily activities—bathing, dressing, eating, paying bills, and healthcare—even with some physical limitations, you’re likely experiencing normal aging. If tasks that were once routine have become impossible, dementia may be the cause.
7. How Do You React to Stress or Fatigue?
Memory may falter under stress or exhaustion, but you generally won’t forget loved ones or deeply familiar information. If stress or fatigue cause severe confusion or disorientation, it may signal dementia.
3 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT DEMENTIA
Dementia and Alzheimer’s Are Not the Same. Dementia is an umbrella term for cognitive impairment with many types; Alzheimer’s is the most common.
Dementia Is Not Normal Aging. Risks rise with age, but dementia results from impaired brain function, not an inevitable part of growing older.
Dementia Affects More Than Memory. It can impact movement, language, self-care, immune function, continence, and emotional control.