Understanding the differences between normal forgetfulness and dementia

Have you ever found yourself standing in the middle of a room, wondering what you came in for? Or perhaps you’ve struggled to remember a word that was on the tip of your tongue? These occasional memory lapses are often a normal part of aging and are usually not a cause for alarm.

In fact, after we turn 65 years old, almost 40% of us will experience some form of memory loss. For most of us, however, the memory loss will be mild enough that we can still live our day-to-day lives without interruption. According to the World Health Organization, only 5-8% of those over 60 will go on to develop dementia.

So, chances are that if you are forgetting things, you’re probably just experiencing normal memory loss that comes with aging, as opposed to something more serious, like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. But can you tell the difference? Let’s explore some key differences between normal aging and dementia: 1. Forgetting vs. forgetting how to do: Aging often involves forgetting details like names, dates, or why you entered a room. Dementia, on the other hand, can lead to forgetting how to perform everyday routine tasks like cooking or driving.

2. Recall vs. recognition: Aging might cause temporary difficulty recalling information, but a reminder can help. Dementia, on the other hand, generally affects both recall and recognition, even with prompting.

3. Delayed memory vs. impaired memory: With aging, it might take longer to remember things, but the memory usually eventually surfaces. Dementia, by contrast, generally results in persistent, ongoing memory impairment — the inability to remember things from the past or form new memories.

4. Minor impact vs. significant impact: Aging-related memory changes typically are annoying but don’t affect daily life significantly. Dementia, on the other hand, generally interferes with work and relationships and ultimately can make it impossible to live independently. If those who are closest to you are starting to notice your memory problems, it might be time to consider seeing a doctor.

5. Inability to remember things vs. inability to learn new skills: If you find yourself merely unable to remember some things from the past, like what you ate for breakfast yesterday, that is probably normal aging. However, if you find that you are having a lot of trouble learning new skills, like how to program a new simple house alarm system with three steps, even after it has been shown to you several times, that could be a sign of a more serious underlying health condition.

If you’re experiencing the type of forgetfulness that accompanies normal aging, simple strategies like keeping a routine, using memory aids (like writing things down, setting alarms, etc.), and staying physically and mentally active can help. However, if you suspect that you may, in fact, have dementia, consult a healthcare professional for evaluation, support, and guidance on appropriate interventions. Remember, early diagnosis can make a difference in managing these conditions effectively.

Interestingly, most forms of dementia are not inherited, although a few rare forms are, including early-onset Alzheimer’s (the type you get before age 60). In fact, the most important risk factor for the development of dementia is simply advanced age, generally presenting in people who are in their late 70s and 80s.

Regardless of whether you had a family member with dementia or not and regardless of how old you are, it is always a good idea to stay vigilant, be proactive, and remember that every moment is worth cherishing — even the ones you’d rather forget! And, if your memory seems to be getting worse over time, see your doctor.