Not all forgetfulness or memory loss means you have dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Here’s what you should know.

Published: July 20, 2021 | Updated: August 15, 2024

For adults, particularly in their 60s and 70s, occasional forgetfulness is nothing to worry about. If you are concerned about dementia versus normal aging, here are some things to consider.

Sometimes you forget what day it is but remember it later. It’s common for older adults to occasionally forget something as simple as where they placed car keys or the name of the person they just met.

Normal aging may mean the brain processes at slower speeds, so multitasking is more difficult. However, routine memory, skills and knowledge typically remain stable and may even improve with age.

You might automatically assume that any continuing or worsening issues with memory loss mean you have Alzheimer’s disease. That is not always the case. There are differences between dementia and normal aging.

“These changes can be a nuisance and at times frustrating,” said Rachel N. Hart, D.O., a geriatric medicine specialist with Norton Neuroscience Institute Memory Center. “It’s important not to worry too much about this. For most people, these changes will be the result of normal aging and aren’t indicative of dementia.”

Dementia vs. normal aging

Dementia includes not only memory loss but difficulties with cognition, thinking, reasoning and the ability to carry on one’s life and daily activities.

Not all people experience the same symptoms, have the same level of severity or progress in the same way. There are several distinctions that can be made between dementia and normal aging.

While forgetfulness and short-term memory loss are a common experience of aging, dementia is not. Dementia is a progressive and permanent condition. It affects overall cognitive function, including remembering facts or experiences, learning new skills or facts and reasoning skills. It also includes behavior, focus and language. There are different kinds of dementia. Diseases that cause progressive, irreversible damage to the brain include: 

• Alzheimers disease
• Lewy body dementia
• Vascular dementia
• Frontotemporal dementia 
• A combination of the above, which is called mixed dementia 

Normal aging

1. Having troubles concentrating and often having difficulty finding the right word
2. Slow to think things through or juggle multiple tasks
3. Occasional feelings of anxiety or moodiness
4. Confusion about the day or a location but remembering later
5. Misplacing common items but able to find them

Dementia

1. Issues with language skills; asking the same questions repeatedly
2. Difficulty paying attention or completing a task
3. Consistent irritability or noticeable changes in personality
4. Disorientation as to the date; getting lost in a familiar place
5. Continually misplacing items and not being able to find them

Mild cognitive impairment 

This condition has symptoms that are not as severe as Alzheimer’s or other kinds of dementia. People with mild cognitive impairment usually can perform their daily activities and take care of themselves. Sometimes this condition can get better on its own or progress more slowly if the cause is one that is reversible. 

When to see your doctor about memory loss

For older adults and their loved ones, coming to terms with memory loss and the possible onset of a more serious memory issue or condition can be difficult. Getting a prompt diagnosis from a doctor is key in determining if further testing is required.

When ongoing memory loss and forgetfulness require medical attention, your health care provider may ask a simple set of questions in order to assess the severity of the impairment. The questions might touch on the onset of the forgetfulness or symptoms of cognitive decline, the type of tasks that seem difficult, whether you’ve started any new drug or if a recent head injury or other trauma may have occurred.

Further blood and brain image testing also may be required in order to give an accurate diagnosis, develop a care plan and provide support for older adults with a potential memory issue.