Warning Signs of Dementia
How do I know if it's normal aging or a potential sign of dementia?
You’re not alone if you’ve forgotten where you put your keys, blanked on an acquaintance's name, or walked into a room only to forget why you went there. These moments can be worrying, especially if you have loved ones affected by dementia or if you're getting older yourself.
It’s important to understand the key differences between “normal aging” and potential signs of dementia. See the key differentiators and explore the real-life comparisons of normal aging and signs of dementia below.
If you're worried about yourself or someone you love, please reach out to your doctor.
Memory Loss ("Lapses")
Normal aging
Drawing a blank on the name of someone from your weekly yoga class
Potential Signs of Dementia
Not recognizing a family member or forgetting your partner’s name
Normal aging
Forgetting a person's name momentarily
Potential Signs of Dementia
Forgetting things more often and not remembering them later
Normal aging
Forgetting an arbitrary appointment and remembering it later
Potential Signs of Dementia
Forgetting your weekly games night with friends (you’ve attended for years)
Normal aging
Having to look up that recipe you only make once a year
Potential Signs of Dementia
Forgetting how to make your famous spaghetti sauce that you've whipped up from memory every Sunday for decades
Difficulty Performing Familiar Tasks
Normal aging
Forgetting which route is fastest to get to a familiar spot
Potential Signs of Dementia
Getting lost on your own street or forgetting where you are and how to get home
Normal aging
Taking a few tries to get the hang of your new TV, but eventually, with a little help, you can figure it out
Potential Signs of Dementia
Continuing to need help and repetitive explanations for the most simple tasks with new technology, and it still doesn't click.
Normal aging
Having some trouble with a brand new coffee maker or reading a complex user manual for a new machine
Potential Signs of Dementia
Trouble with simple tasks you’ve done repeatedly, like the basic steps to making a cup of coffee
Normal aging
Struggling with a recipe that's new to you, or quite complicated
Potential Signs of Dementia
Forgetting the rules of a favourite game
Difficulty with Language
Normal aging
Having difficulty finding the right word from time to time
Potential Signs of Dementia
Struggling with vocabulary frequently; having trouble finding the right word or calling things by the wrong name
Confusion of Time and Place
Normal aging
Momentarily forgetting if it's Tuesday or Wednesday
Potential Signs of Dementia
Forgetting it's winter time, and putting shorts on to go outside
Normal aging
Walking into the kitchen and thinking "Why did I come in here, again?"
Potential Signs of Dementia
Becoming disoriented in your regular grocery store; you can't recognize where you are or what you're doing there
Normal aging
Losing track of time while reading a good book or catching up with a friend
Potential Signs of Dementia
Thinking it's morning when it's evening time
Normal aging
Wandering around the parking lot because you can't remember where you parked this time
Potential Signs of Dementia
Forgetting the car is parked at the mall and taking the bus home
Normal aging
Becoming lost in a new neighbourhood or an unfamiliar part of town
Potential Signs of Dementia
Becoming lost in a familiar neighbourhood (like your own)
Challenges with Judgment and Decision-Making
Normal aging
Making the occasional poor judgment call, like not bringing a jacket to watch an outdoor game or putting off a doctor’s visit despite being sick
Potential Signs of Dementia
Not recognizing that it's unsafe to go outside without a jacket in minus 30 degree weather
Normal aging
Needing more time to choose something on the lunch menu
Potential Signs of Dementia
Not being able to make decisions that used to be simple, or being overwhelmed with choices and unable to make a decision.
Misplacing Things
Normal aging
Forgetting where you left the keys occasionally, but being able to retrace your steps to find them
Potential Signs of Dementia
Putting things in odd places, then not being able to think through your recent activities to determine where you left the keys
Problems with Abstract Thinking
Normal aging
Occasionally miscounting money, especially if you haven't handled real cash in a while
Potential Signs of Dementia
Having trouble recognizing the value of different bills or coins. Having difficulty counting money or calculating change (Paying for a $5 snack with a $10 bill, you would get $5 in change)
Normal aging
Getting confused or feeling overwhelmed when doing your taxes
Potential Signs of Dementia
Challenges reading a non-digital clock (when the person used to read it easily)
Normal aging
Difficulty doing simple calculations sometimes
Potential Signs of Dementia
Not knowing what the numbers mean on a cheque
Changes in Mood of Behaviour
Normal aging
The person’s character has generally stayed the same
Potential Signs of Dementia
Acting out of character
Normal aging
Occasionally experiencing a change in mood, but it’s tied to a reason (e.g. a change in routine)
Potential Signs of Dementia
Quick changes in mood for no apparent reason
Normal aging
Occasionally feeling upset, anxious, angry or suspicious, and there’s usually a clear reason for it
Potential Signs of Dementia
Easily angered, upset or increasingly suspicious for no obvious reason
Normal aging
Feeling fearful or anxious from time to time
Potential Signs of Dementia
General lack of confidence or feeling fearful (when you used to feel confident)
Normal aging
Some changes can happen slowly over time, but they are not dramatic changes in behaviour or personality
Potential Signs of Dementia
Feeling more introverted when you used to be more outgoing, or vice versa (dramatic personality changes)
Normal aging
Occasionally feeling confused, (not daily or weekly)
Potential Signs of Dementia
Feeling more confused than usual, this is happening frequently
Normal aging
Occasionally procrastinating when it comes to a task
Potential Signs of Dementia
Difficulty beginning a task without cues or prompting
Normal aging
Feeling tired of work, family, or social obligations from time to time
Potential Signs of Dementia
Stopping important activities like hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports
Normal aging
Occasionally wanting to skip something you normally do (or care about)
Potential Signs of Dementia
No longer caring about things you used to care about
Withdrawal from Work or Social Activities
Normal aging
Occasionally procrastinating when it comes to a task
Potential Signs of Dementia
Difficulty beginning a task without cues or prompting
Normal aging
Feeling tired of work, family, or social obligations from time to time
Potential Signs of Dementia
Stopping important activities like hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports
Normal aging
Occasionally wanting to skip something you normally do (or care about)
Potential Signs of Dementia
No longer caring about things you used to care about
Challenges with Visual & Spatial Information
Normal aging
Having difficulty with mobility on stairs or needing time to adjust to your new prescription lenses
Potential Signs of Dementia
Difficulties doing things that involve vision and spatial recognition that you used to do before, such as using stairs, parking a car, recognizing familiar objects
Key Differentiators of Normal Aging vs. Dementia
Frequency
Normal aging:
Occasional lapses or changes
Example:
Having trouble finding the right word from time to time.
Potential sign of dementia:
Changes are noticeable often, possibly daily
Example:
Example: Struggling with vocabulary or calling things by the wrong name frequently.
Context
Normal aging:
Changes often happen outside the person’s normal routine
Example:
Having trouble finding the right word from time to time.
Potential sign of dementia:
Changes occur even with familiar routines, people or surroundings
Example:
Example: Forgetting the name of someone in your immediate family.
Is it out of character?
Normal aging:
Is it something you might expect of this person?
Example:
Someone who rarely golfs can’t remember which golf club is which.
Potential sign of dementia:
Is it completely out of character?
Example:
Example: Someone who has golfed their whole life can't remember which golf club is which.