Dementia versus forgetfulness: How to tell the difference

We all forget things from time to time; that’s just a normal part of life, and why we keep ‘to-do’ lists and reminders around out homes. As people age, the instances of forgetfulness may become more frequent, but this is all a normal part of the aging process. So, how can we tell the difference between normal absent mindedness and warning signs of dementia?

Here’s what you need to know.

Age related, normal forgetfulness

As we age, natural changes in our brains make it more difficult for us to remember certain facts or memories, although sometimes these things will come back to us, eventually. This is because the natural stimulators of brain cell repair and growth start to decline, making it more difficult for us to locate memories, even when they are still in there somewhere. Typical signs of forgetfulness include:

• Forgetting where your keys, purse, glasses and other objects have been left
• Not recalling details of conversations, although you do remember the conversation taking place
• ‘Tip of the tongue’ phenomena, where words are hard to recall
• Missing appointments or becoming confused about when they were supposed to take place

This normal age-related forgetfulness is annoying, but should not be alarming or particularly disruptive to day to day life.

Significant memory loss

Sometimes this forgetfulness is more serious, and could be a sign of something more worrying. When forgetting things starts to cause problems with overall lifestyle, it should not be ignored, as it could be a sign of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), known to be a precursor to dementia. Typical symptoms can include:

• Struggling to remember things day to day
• Losing or misplacing things frequently
• Not being able to recall the names of people, both those you’ve just met and those you’ve known for some time
• Relying on notes, planners and diaries to get through the day
• Other symptoms such as depression, exhaustion or weight loss

If these symptoms are causing problems with everyday activities, they could be a sign of MCI. The good news is that spotting this quickly can mean help is sought at an early stage, giving you more time to prepare if it does develop into dementia.

Dementia

Dementia is the next stage following MCI, and can often come with symptoms that are very similar to significant memory loss, only more severe. These problems will start to impact greatly on everyday life, causing problems and potentially putting the sufferer at risk. Typically, people at this stage will exhibit:

• Significant problems in remembering things that happened in the recent past
• Becoming unable to follow plots of films or conversations
• Unable to recall the names of everyday objects
• Repeating what they’ve already said, or losing the thread of what they wanted to say
• Getting lost in familiar places, or feeling disorientated regularly
• Changes in personality, mood or attitude

None of these symptoms alone are definitive symptoms of dementia, but should be further investigated by a medical professional. An early dementia diagnosis can make it easier to get the right treatment and support, and can help family members to understand why these changes are taking place.

Age related memory loss is not the same as dementia, and while we all have ‘senior moments’ from time to time, more serious cognitive impairment should not be overlooked. Dementia will generally get worse over time, so if things are going downhill rapidly, do seek professional attention to ensure you’re getting the right support.