As people get older they tend to experience memory and cognition decline, however not all memory loss is a sign of dementia. It is crucial to distinguish between dementia features and features that are seen as normal with age. Such a procedure will help in determining if a professional assessment is necessary. The possibilities of senior people developing dementia have been presented in a table format, with the chances of a normal ageing process also presented alongside it.
Normal Changes Of Aging

Some cognitive changes which happen with age do not warrant any concerns and these are:

Forgetting Some Names:

There are occasions when one misses recalling the names of some people, especially those with whom an individual isn’t well acquainted and only recall them later.

Lengthy Response Time Processing New Information:

Although they can still strive to remember information, many individuals find that they require more time to learn new skills or take in new information as they age.

Misplaced Items:

A person might need to retrace their steps to remember where they left their pan or any common placed objects such as spectacles or car keys.

Losing Track of Appointments:

There is a greater picture of normalcy when forgetting a date or an appointment at times, and it usually doesn’t disrupt normal day-to-day tasks.

Forgetting The Exact Word To Use In A Conversation:

It is certainly not needless for someone to be conversing and suddenly forget a word, however with a slight pause recalling doesn’t usually take long.

Problems with Emerging Technology:

Smart gadgets or apps can be confusing for older people and may take some time for them to learn but they are ultimately capable of achieving this goal.

Requiring Additional Time to Reflect:

It’s not too unusual for younger people to take a beat longer to make a decision in the current circumstances, and this ability tends to remain with them throughout their daily life.

Typical agerelated changes do not strike a person in such a manner that day to day functioning is dramatically altered, nor their level of independence.

The signs of dementia

Dementia is the term used to describe a gradual and progressive decline in cognitive function sufficient to impair the activities of daily living. This condition is triggered by many disorders that damage brain tissue, including what is known as vascular dementia, Alzheimer’s and others. The symptoms of dementia usually begin insidiously, but they grow in severity over time. The following signs and symptoms are typical:

Loss of Memory:

failure to remember recent conversations, time / marked appointments, or these events or the better part of them, which occurred not long ago—common Alzheimer’s patients complaints.

Lost and confused about how to accomplish very simple activities of daily living:

Often forget how to perform commonplace, everyday tasks such as those of a cooking, paying bills, and dressing up correctly and complain that they need help with such tasks more often than before.

Language and communication in the elderly:

It is common among those with dementia to lose track of discussions, and to be unable to locate the proper words to respond, or internally register what others are uttering. Such language losses, however, are progressive in nature as language deterioration is first observed during the mid-stages of dementia.

Changes in Behavior:

Dementia is characterized by emotional changes which include the onset of rage, restlessness and even sadness. Others may become more passive and withdraw from social engagements.

What is more debilitating, dementia or the aging process?

The first group is attacked by the darkness of senile dementia and the second is left with different shades of aging. Some of the contrasts include:

Dementia occurs while aging.

It is normal to one day forget about your appointments or significant names but rescheduling the appointment seems like a normal event to me. Forgetfulness tends to happen a lot with those who suffer from learning new things since they have a tendency to forget the latest one such as an important event.

Having difficulties recalling the right nuances sometimes. Their speech appears to be more vague than normal, along with them repeating the same inquiry multiple times each day.

Combing areas of their home for misplaced belongings like clothes, shoes, and other miscellaneous items. Where regularly do we put our keys? Probably in the ref, and later on I will not recognize where they are since devoid of memory I cannot remember the specifics.

I tend to take more time than I would like when learning about new technology. Sometimes, there are electronic devices that one has previously employed which now appear difficult to operate, and there are also new technologies that one is incapable of navigating through without an educational tutor.

taking a longer time to think about choosing the best/appropriate option. Even in the basic situation such as preparing the bates rub recipe or trying to settle a bill, it becomes a daunting task to make a decision or solve a problem.

occasional difficulty recalling events that does not interfere with day-to-day activities. Disorientation and loss of memory that affects the ability to carry out day-to-day activities such as finding oneself in a strange place in what is thought to be a familiar area.

Diagnosing dementia

There is a need to note that only a qualified medical professional such as a neurologist or geriatrician is able to make a diagnosis of dementia. It is important to report a medical examination in case you or your close person, are experiencing disorders related to memory loss and concentration which are affecting the way you perform your daily activities.

Other illnesses can also cause signs that are very similar to dementia, such as infections, depression, or even malnourishment. If necessary, a doctor may help to exclude other conditions and provide adequate treatment.

In conclusion.

It is normal for people to experience some changes and even loss of memory as they age, but it is essential to note that severe deficits such as persistent memory loss, prolonged confusion, or even significant changes in the behavior patterns can be associated with dementia or other forms of illness. It is important that the attention is given for such problems occurring, since it is believed that the problems, once addressed, also increase the overall quality of life.