You forget things and events occasionally. So what is normal aging, and what is dementia? Main results are: There is persistence of the regional distribution of the alpha f … You may have trouble finding common words (like watch or pen), and you may not even recall that conversations or events ever took place. This spring, ... DO distinguish between "normal aging" and "something's not quite right here." However, do you know how to identify signs of a physical or mental alteration in your loved one that may indicate a more serious underlying factor? Normal Aging Not being able to remember details of a conversation or event that took place a year ago. Dementia is a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. It is caused by damage to brain cells that affects their ability to communicate, which can affect thinking, behavior and feelings. Dementia is a syndrome which describes a wide range of symptoms. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s (AHLZ-high-merz) disease, a fatal disorder that results in the loss of brain cells and function. It's also true that thinking skills slow in some ways with age. May 20, 2019 - Drs. While some mild changes in cognition are considered a normal part of the aging process, dementia is not. YourLife™ of Coconut Creek is looking forward to virtually hosting an expert lineup of local professionals this August! It may be a symptom of dementia. According to the National Institute on Aging, it’s perfectly natural to experience age-related memory loss. Tim Watt | January 10, 2014 Print Email. Changes in Cognitive Abilities: Normal Aging vs. Dementia. As we age, our cognitive tendencies and abilities gradually decline. Dementia is a term for a collection of symptoms of cognitive decline including disruptions in language, memory, attention, recognition, problem solving, and decision-making that interferes with daily activities. Mark Kunik and Robert Roush discuss some of the normal signs of aging as opposed to the start of dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Normal aging might cause you to not remember the details of a conversation that took place last year. 10 Signs of Dementia 1. As people get older, changes occur in all parts of the body, including the brain,” they advise. YourLife™ of Coconut Creek. Besides, the name that doctors put in the chart is changing. Written by. Challenges in planning or solving problems 3. Damage to brain cells interfere with brain cells’ ability to function. Research reports that age-related modification in brain structures like reduced hippocampal, frontal and temporal lobe volumes indicate normal signs of aging. Normal Aging Memory Loss vs Dementia. What is Normal Aging and Dementia? Alzheimer’s is a neurodegerative disease that is the most common cause of dementia. How can you tell the difference between mild forgetfulness and serious memory problems like Alzheimer's disease? When there is no real underlying medical reason for memory loss, it is considered a part of the normal aging process. 4. Community. Dementia will make it difficult to recall details from conversations that took place within the last few days or even hours. In all cases of dementia, there is neurodegeneration, which is the death of brain cells. See what's typical and what's not: Normal aging The normal aging process While people who experience some memory loss may fear the worst, certain symptoms are part of normal aging and are not caused by dementia, says Dr. Stuart. The onset of dementia is slower, usually taking months or years to develop with minor symptoms sometimes being dismissed as normal forgetfulness or ignored. Normal forgetfulness vs. dementia. Dementia symptom: Being unable to problem solve, multi-task, and making bad decisions more often. Normal age-related declines are subtle and mostly affect the speed of thinking and attentional control. 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