How to tell if memory loss is normal or an early sign of dementia
Does your mom sometimes “lose” her keys? Did your uncle forget a new friend’s name? Has your spouse come home from the supermarket without essential items that were on the list? If so, you may worry that you’re seeing signs of Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia.
However, this type of forgetfulness may be a result of another cause. People dealing with stress and depression, for example, may have trouble concentrating. This can make them appear to have memory problems. Also, a certain amount of memory loss is an expected part of aging. So, forgetting a name, where the car keys are, or an item on a shopping list are within the normal range.
Still, changes in behavior can often be causes for concern—especially when it comes to mental health. So, it’s important to pay attention to how your loved one is managing the daily activities of life.
What to watch for and when to seek help
While it’s common to briefly forget what day it is, someone with dementia may forget the day, season, or year entirely. A forgotten word here or there is normal, but being unable to manage a conversation isn’t. Missing a payment or making a miscalculation in a checkbook register happens occasionally to nearly everyone, but if it’s a regular occurrence, it may be a sign of a deeper problem.
If your loved one is experiencing issues with 2 or more of the following functions, dementia may be the cause:
- Memory—especially short-term memory
- Language and communication
- Focus and attention
- Reasoning and judgment
- Visual perception
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, here are 10 warning signs for detecting dementia early:
- Memory loss that disrupts daily life
- Challenges in planning or solving problems
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work, or at leisure
- Confusion with time or place
- Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
- New problems with words in speaking or writing
- Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
- Decreased or poor judgment
- Withdrawal from work or social activities
- Changes in mood and personality
If your loved one is experiencing any of these signs, it’s time to have a conversation with a health care provider. Only qualified medical professionals can diagnose dementia. That’s why it’s important for your loved one to talk with a medical provider and have an evaluation.
When they do, it’ll be helpful if you—or another trusted family member or caregiver—can go to the appointment also. This can be helpful with note taking. And having another point of view can help the health care provider get a more complete picture of what’s happening.
The importance of detecting dementia early
The feelings of fear and shame about a dementia diagnosis cause some people to delay talking to their health care provider. Please don’t wait. An early and accurate diagnosis of dementia is important. It helps with asking the right questions and finding the right resources to help meet the challenges ahead.
While there aren’t any treatments available today that can reverse the effects of dementia, some medications or interventions may slow its progression. Other medications can help with mood disorders, anxiety, and hallucinations that may result from—and co-exist with—dementia. Having a medical evaluation can determine whether other medical conditions or medication side effects are contributing to the problem and may also lead to important recommendations to improve the situation.
Your loved one’s health care provider can also help guide discussions about advanced directives, health care proxies, financial management, and overall care goals to help plan for the future.
For more information about dementia, visit the Alzheimer’s Association website.
Originally posted: May 2017
Last updated: April 2025
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