Normal Aging vs. Dementia: Understanding the Difference
Normal Aging vs. Dementia: Understanding the Difference
We've all been there – that moment when you can't find your keys, draw a blank on your neighbour's name, or stand in a doorway wondering, "Why did I come in here?" When these moments happen, it's natural to feel a little worried, especially if Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia have touched your family or if you're noticing more of these ‘senior moments’ as you age.
It's one of the most common questions we receive. "How do I know if it's just normal aging or if it's a potential sign of dementia?"
Key Differentiators of Dementia Warning Signs
Three important things to keep in mind:
1. How often is it happening? With normal aging, we have occasional memory lapses. With potential dementia, these lapses appear almost daily and disrupt normal life.
2. When is it occurring? If you only get flustered when thrown off your routine, that's normal. But confusion during familiar activities or with familiar people could be a sign.
3. Is it out of character? If someone who's golfed their whole life suddenly can't remember which club is which, that's more concerning than someone who rarely golfs having the same issue.
Real Life Examples of Dementia Warning Signs (Because We All Need Them!)
Remembering Names and People
• Normal aging: Drawing a blank on the name of someone from your weekly yoga class
• Potential sign of dementia: Not recognizing your daughter or forgetting your partner’s name
Navigation
• Normal aging: Walking into the kitchen and thinking "Why did I come in here, again?"
• Potential sign of dementia: Getting disoriented in your regular grocery store or on your own street
Getting Around
• Normal aging: Wandering around the parking lot because you can't remember where you parked this time
• Potential sign of dementia: Driving to the store but taking the bus home because you forgot you drove there
Everyday Tasks
• Normal aging: Taking a few tries to get the hang of your new coffee maker, but eventually figuring it out
• Potential sign of dementia: Having your son explain how to use the TV remote every day, and it’s still not clicking
In the Kitchen
• Normal aging: Having to look up that cake recipe you rarely make
• Potential sign of dementia: Forgetting how to make your famous spaghetti sauce that you've whipped up weekly from memory, or not remembering how to make a simple sandwich
Judgment and Problem-Solving
• Normal aging: You make the occasional poor judgment call, like not bringing a jacket to watch an outdoor game
• Potential sign of dementia: You might not recognize obvious dangers, and head outside with no shoes on in minus 30 degree weather
Misplacing Things
• Normal aging: You might forget where you left the keys occasionally and not be able to retrace your steps to find them
• Potential sign of dementia: You might put the milk in the cupboard or the car keys in the bathroom cabinet, and you cannot retrace your steps to find them
Changes in Mood and Behaviour
• Normal aging: You might get upset or anxious when a set routine is changed
• Potential sign of dementia: You might act out of character, have quick changes in your mood for no apparent reason, become easily angry, upset or increasingly suspicious
Social Activities
• Normal aging: You might feel tired of work, family, or social obligations sometimes
• Potential sign of dementia: You might stop doing important activities like hobbies, social things, work projects or sports, or stop being interested in the things you used to care about
For more examples, see a more complete list with Alzheimer Calgary.
When Should You Reach Out for Help?
If you notice:
• Daily memory issues or confusion that affect your routine activities
• Getting lost or disoriented in familiar places
• Struggling with previously simple tasks
• A noticeable shift from how things used to be
It might be time for a friendly chat with your doctor. Remember – there's absolutely no shame in this conversation. Sometimes memory problems are caused by things that can be fixed, like medication side effects or vitamin deficiencies, or even other treatable conditions, such as depression.
You're Still You – And We're Here
If you're worried about yourself or someone you love, please reach out. Making sense of memory changes isn't something anyone should have to figure out alone – we can help you navigate this journey together.
Please note: If you're concerned, talk to your doctor or ask for a referral to a specialist. There are many reasons memory can be affected, and a proper check-up is the best way to understand what's going on. Dementia is diagnosed by ruling out other common causes of these symptoms. This blog cannot diagnose anything – only a healthcare professional can do that.
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