“What was the name of that man who worked on our cars for years?  I can see his face. Ahh, I can’t think of his name!” A few minutes later….”Oh, yes, it was John Smith!” 

As you age, is it normal to forget a name or detail occasionally? Or does this mean you have early signs of dementia? As more and more of the population ages, dementia, which is not a disease but a term referring to an impaired ability to think, is a concern for many. And certainly, dementia has been part of the conversation during this election cycle.

Most of us would agree. Aging is not for the faint-hearted. There are physical and cognitive losses that come with growing older. However, a few senior moments are normal. If you have an occasional problem of retrieving a minor fact, that is different from a daily impairment of memory. But, if you see a steady decline in memory and confusion, it would be good to be examined by a physician.

Statistically, the risk of dementia is around 5% for those in their 70s. But the risk of dementia greatly increases once you reach the age of 90.  More than 5 million people in the US live with dementia. There are several types of dementia. Alzheimer’s is the most common followed by vascular dementia. Both involve confusion, getting lost, forgetting who people are and difficulty with calculations. Other types of dementia are Lewy body, frontotemporal and mixed dementia.

In simple terms, dementia is caused by  damage to, or loss of nerve cells and their connections in the brain. The signs to look for include cognitive changes related to finding words, reasoning or problem-solving, handling complex tasks, organizing, and confusion and disorientation. There may also be personality changes, depression, anxiety, paranoia, agitation, even hallucinations and inappropriate behavior.

Dementia typically involves memory, attention, communication, reasoning, judgment and visual perception issues beyond normal vision changes. It is slow moving and develops over time. This is in stark contrast to delirium which has more of a sudden onset that lasts hours or days related to an acute illness.

If you have concerns regarding someone you love, see a doctor. Memory loss can be due to a number of reasons that need to be assessed. You want to make sure the loss isn’t due to a medication or for some other reason. If you are diagnosed, a physician can help guide treatment and lifestyle changes that can help.