forgetfulness and dementia

As we age, it is common for us to experience “senior moments” or “vague moments”. This can be either a normal part of ageing or the early signs of dementia. It can be very difficult to tell the difference between the two, especially in the early stages of dementia.

Normal forgetfulness

1. You remember what you forgot later – If you forgot where you put your keys or were trying to remember the name of the street your son lives on but couldn’t, don’t worry. If you can remember the information later (be it five minutes or two hours later), you are probably fine.

2. Tools to help you remember – If you forget to take your medication unless you set a mobile phone reminder or write yourself a note, don't worry. People who use post-it notes or electronic reminders are likely to be experiencing “normal” forgetfulness.

3. Transience and absentmindedness – Transience is when the brain forgets some memories over time. This may be a good thing as the brain is removing unused memories to prepare room for the new ones. Absent-mindedness is when you are not 100 per cent focused on the information you should have remembered at the time, for example, you were preoccupied with other thoughts.

4. Forgetfulness is associated with being busy – If you forgot to return a phone call or make your way to a meeting because you were having a busy day, don't worry. When we are excessively busy, we only have room for so much information in our minds and naturally, some things get pushed out.

5. Being able to execute self-care – If you have had a crazy day and forgot five things but can still settle into a nice bath or feed yourself well at the end of the day, you are probably experiencing normal signs of age-related forgetfulness.

Signs of dementia

The following are signs of dementia, which are quite different to normal age-related forgetfulness.

1. Forgetting important information – The symptoms of dementia go beyond merely forgetting where you placed your car keys or when an appointment was booked. Symptoms of dementia include forgetting important information such as the names of friends and loved ones.

2 . Difficulty with simple tasks – If you or a loved one have a hard time remembering to pay bills, pick up spouses/children or carry out normal hygiene procedures like brushing teeth and showering, it is likely that this forgetfulness is a sign of dementia. This is also true for people who lose weight due to forgetting to eat or for people who gain weight because they eat many meals and forget about previous ones.

3. Difficulty in familiar settings – While it is normal to get lost in new places, it is not normal to get lost on your way home. If you notice that a friend or loved one is forgetting how to get home or to the local supermarket, or cannot remember which room is the bedroom or which car belongs to him or her, these are most likely signs of dementia.

4. Difficulty in new settings – Another common symptom of dementia is the tendency to become disorientated in new environments, i.e. the new information is difficult to process or remember, so there is difficulty recalling it. The disorientation can extend to both place and time.

5. Frequently forgetting words – While it is normal to grapple for the right word, it is not normal to forget words altogether. If you notice that you or loved one cannot remember simple words, slurs words or forgets important information like a loved one’s name or birthday, it is time to seek help.

6. Poor judgment – If forgetfulness has reached the level where the individual is making forgetful judgements that place health or safety at risk, like going out in the winter without a jacket, leaving the stove or gas on at home, or being in minor car accidents such as sideswiping the letterbox in the driveway or a parked car, there is a high possibility that you are dealing with dementia-like symptoms.

7. Difficulty making decisions – If a person you love is having a hard time making simple decisions like what to eat or where to go or if they become frustrated over simple issues, it is likely that this is dementia-related forgetfulness. Additionally, if a person you love seems to have “forgotten” how to act in social situations or acts out in dangerous or inappropriate ways, it is likely these are signs of dementia.

8. Changes in personality

– According to Dementia Australia, people living with dementia can experience changes in their personality. For example, someone in the moderate stages of dementia could suddenly be prone to aggressive behaviour, paranoia or impulsive behaviours.

What to do if you notice signs of dementia

If you notice a loved one displaying signs of dementia, it is important to enlist the help of their GP as the first step as the person may not be aware that they have the early signs of dementia. Your loved one may not want to make a GP appointment to “check their memory”. You can suggest that they make a GP appointment for a “checkup” or to renew scripts.

If the GP feels that your loved one has the early stages of dementia, ideally the next step is to make an appointment with your local Cognitive and Memory Services. Some of these clinics require a referral from the GP, while some others are happy for a phone call from a loved one.

Although memory loss is a frightening prospect, there are many ways to determine the difference between normal forgetfulness and potential Alzheimer’s symptoms. If you notice any of the dementia symptoms in yourself or a loved one, seek medical care immediately in order to produce a positive outcome.