Some of us may become more forgetful as we age, require a little more time to recall things, or have trouble multitasking. The possibility that these could be early indications of dementia can be a little concerning. These could, however, be a consequence of normal aging rather than dementia. Understand how dementia differs from normal aging.
It is normal for our brains to change as we age. However, dementia, which is characterized by loss of memory, language, and thinking abilities, is not a normal aspect of aging. Dementia is a neurological disorder that interferes with the daily functioning of a person.
Unlike dementia, typical age-related cognitive impairments are mild and mostly affect speed, recollection, and attention. On the other hand, dementia may be diagnosed in older people who have severe symptoms and difficulty carrying out daily tasks on their own.
Differentiating between normal aging changes and the early signs of dementia is challenging. Many dementia cases go undiagnosed until the illness has advanced because some of its symptoms can resemble those of normal aging [1]. Nevertheless, there are minor variations that, if identified early, can result in prompt action, improved treatment, and measures that could delay the course of the illness.
What is Aging?
Aging is a natural part of our lives. As we age, our bodies and brains gradually change. These changes can impact our mental and physical capacities and raise our risk of illness.
Everybody’s experience of aging is different. The degree to which we experience age-related changes, as well as the timing in our lives when they become more noticeable, differs among individuals.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), everyone should have the chance to enjoy a long and healthy life. Healthy aging is the process of developing and retaining the functional skills necessary for well-being as people age [2].
What Affects How We Age?
In addition to genetics, our environment and lifestyle have an impact on how we age. In general, among other lifestyle choices, we can promote good aging by keeping our minds busy, eating a balanced diet, and engaging in social and physical activities.
Although these decisions do not ensure a long, disease-free life, they are our best choices for lowering our risk of illness and maintaining our health as we age.
Does Memory Worsen as We Age?
Being concerned about changes in our mental capacities as we age is normal. We want to be able to fulfill our everyday activities, remain independent, and relive our most cherished life experiences without worrying about memory loss, especially dementia.
Here’s what you should know about aging and memory.
Most People Experience No Memory Problems
Most people will retain vivid memories as they age. They won’t experience a significant or quick decline in their memory. They will be able to use the abilities and information they have acquired throughout their lives as they age.
Some People Experience Memory Loss
After the age of 65, more than 40% of adults will experience some form of memory loss [3,4]. However, the likelihood of them having dementia remains low even if they have memory loss. Their memory loss is generally not severe enough to interfere with their daily activities.
A Smaller Portion of the People Experience Dementia
Around 5 to 8% of people will experience dementia beyond the age of 60. Memory loss is one of the signs of dementia that progressively worsens until a person’s abilities drastically decline and they are unable to care for themselves [5].
Normal Age-Related Brain Changes
A healthy brain undergoes changes from birth to old age that impact emotion, cognitive function, and judgment. According to the National Institute on Aging, blood flow and brain cell communication usually decline with age [6].
Some brain regions, such as those crucial for learning and complicated mental activities, decrease. Additionally, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) can result from an increase in inflammation, the body’s reaction to illness or injury, as people age.
For many adults, experiencing memory impairment is a normal aspect of age-related brain changes.
Normal Age-Related Memory Changes
The most common age-related cognitive change is impaired memory function. The following are the normal memory-related brain changes:
- In normal aging, episodic memory (the ability to recall personal experiences and recent events) typically shows the most notable decline. Studies suggest relatively stable performance until middle age, followed by a sharper decline thereafter [7].
- In contrast, semantic memory (knowledge of facts, vocabulary, and general concepts) remains mostly stable across adulthood. It may even increase into middle age, with only modest declines appearing in very late life [7].
- Working memory (responsible for temporarily holding and manipulating information) also declines with age, and this decline may even presage later episodic memory deterioration [8].
- Procedural memory, encompassing motor skills and habits, tends to remain intact in normal aging, exhibiting little to no deficit in older adults [9].
The average adult’s brain volume decreases by 5% every ten years after the age of 40 [10]. Older individuals may experience difficulties finding the correct words or recalling names, struggle with multitasking, and acquire new skills at a slower rate than they did in the past.
Dementia-Related Memory Changes
Dementia refers to the severe cognitive impairment that exceeds the mild cognitive decline associated with normal aging. Dementia patients struggle with thinking, memory, language, and problem-solving, and these issues get worse over time. These problems are serious enough to have a gradual impact on behaviors, emotions, judgment, communication, and everyday life activities.
The risk of dementia doubles almost every five years after age 65, and it approaches one-third by age 85 [11]. Age is not the cause of dementia, but it is a significant risk factor.
Different Levels of Memory Changes
Age-Associated Memory Changes
Age-associated memory impairment is when you are having trouble remembering things, but:
- They are not disturbing your life in any noticeable way.
- They are not interfering with your ability to finish tasks as you typically would.
- You have no trouble learning new information and remembering it.
- No underlying medical condition is behind your memory issues.
Age-related memory deterioration is a common aspect of the aging process. It does not indicate dementia.
You may occasionally have trouble remembering things, such as the location of your keys or the name of a classmate, but these are not symptoms of dementia. Although you might not recall information as quickly as you previously did, this is usually not a reason for worry.
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a condition that lies between dementia and age-associated memory decline. As the name implies, MCI symptoms are mild; while you may have memory loss and other symptoms like disorientation and trouble speaking, they are not severe enough to interfere with your regular activities and daily routines.
However, compared to people with age-associated memory impairment, those with MCI are also more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia.
Dementia
When your memory loss is so severe that:
- It is interfering with your everyday life and your capacity to maintain your regular schedule.
- You are having trouble learning new things,
- You are having difficulty finishing things you are familiar with
- People around you are beginning to notice changes in your abilities.
Then your memory impairments correspond to what people typically experience in the early stages of dementia.
Normal Aging vs. Dementia: A Comparison
While dementia is strongly linked to memory problems, it also affects many other brain regions, which explains the wide range of symptoms beyond memory loss. Besides memory, it affects the brain regions that are involved in judgment, problem-solving, navigation, spatial awareness, visual processing, language, emotional regulation, and face/object recognition.
The following table compares the differences between the signs of typical aging and dementia.
| Sign | Age-related changes | Dementia |
| Problems with memory | Sometimes forgetting names, appointments, and events, but then remembering them; occasionally, forgetting entirely what other people have said. | May experience problems remembering people, significant dates, or events, and/or might repeatedly ask for the same information to the point where it interferes with their day-to-day activities. |
| Misplacing items | Sometimes misplacing things, but being able to retrace steps to find them. | Misplacing things and being unable to find them; putting items in odd places (such as putting a cell phone in the refrigerator) and/or making false accusations about theft. These behaviors may become more common with time. |
| Visual Perception Issues | Age-related visual abnormalities, such as cataracts or glaucoma, can lead to poor eyesight. | Losing the ability to recognize faces and objects as a result of brain changes, having trouble identifying colors, patterns, distances, and spaces. |
| Mobility Problems | Age-related health issues, such as joint problems and muscular weakness, can cause stiffness and pain when walking, as well as a decreased ability to tolerate long walks or climb stairs. | Gradually losing the capacity to walk safely due to diminished environmental awareness and balance, sitting, standing, and moving may require additional support with worsening of symptoms over time. |
| Mood, Behavior, & Personality Changes | Experiencing occasional fatigue from job, family, and social activities, as well as feeling a little depressed or nervous; occasionally getting agitated when routines or particular methods are disturbed. | Experiencing abrupt mood swings without any apparent cause, retreating from social activities, becoming passive, sleeping more than usual, and growing somewhat callous toward other people. |
| Confusion with Places and Time | Sometimes having trouble remembering the day of the week, but eventually figure it out; going to a specific location in the house and forgetting why you are there, but then remembering why. | Having trouble telling the time or being confused about meal times, being unable to identify the location (including their own house) leading to frustration in unfamiliar or noisy surroundings, and getting lost in locations they frequently visit. |
| Communication Issues | Finding the correct word can be a little challenging at times, needing to focus harder to follow a discussion, yet occasionally getting lost if distracted or if several people are talking at once | Having a hard time expressing themselves, naming things, or coming up with the correct word, experiencing trouble following what other people are saying, and occasionally ending discussions without knowing how to continue. |
| Judgement & Social Behavior | Making a bad decision occasionally. | Not realizing if an action is safe or appropriate (e.g., shouting and taking off clothes in public, or offering large amounts of money to strangers). |
| Trouble Planning, Thinking, & Completing Familiar Tasks | Being a little slower to respond or process information, and losing the ability to multitask (particularly when distracted), occasionally making a mistake (such as when creating the household budget for the month). | Struggling to plan and complete routine, everyday tasks (e.g., making a grocery list, paying bills, or remembering the rules of a favorite game), ignoring personal hygiene and grooming, having difficulty concentrating and following directions, which results in taking much longer to complete tasks. |
Do not use the above information to self-diagnose or diagnose someone with dementia. If you or your loved ones experience any symptoms, consult your doctor, who can guide you to a diagnosis.
Alzheimer’s Research Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping caregivers of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. We provide the latest information and news about the illness and helpful tips to help caregivers cope with their daily caregiving challenges. We realize the most important thing that a caregiver needs is financial assistance. Therefore, we provide grants to caregivers to ease their financial burden. Caregivers can apply for grants here: Alzheimer’s Grant Application.
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References
- Healthy Aging. University of California San Francisco (UCSF). https://memory.ucsf.edu/brain-health/healthy-aging. Accessed: 8th September, 2025.
- Healthy ageing and functional ability. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/healthy-ageing-and-functional-ability/. Published Online: 26th October, 2020. Accessed: 8th September, 2025.
- The differences between normal aging and dementia. Alzheimer’s Society. https://alzheimer.ca/en/about-dementia/do-i-have-dementia/differences-between-normal-aging-dementia. Accessed: 8th September, 2025.
- Aigbogun, M.S., Stellhorn, R., Krasa, H. and Kostic, D., 2017. Severity of memory impairment in the elderly: Association with health care resource use and functional limitations in the United States. Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring, 8, pp.51-59.
- Prince, M., Bryce, R., Albanese, E., Wimo, A., Ribeiro, W. and Ferri, C.P., 2013. The global prevalence of dementia: a systematic review and metaanalysis. Alzheimer’s & dementia, 9(1), pp.63-75.
- How the Aging Brain Affects Thinking. National Institute on Aging. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/brain-health/how-aging-brain-affects-thinking. Last Reviewed: 27th June, 2023. Accessed: 8th September, 2025.
- Nilsson, L.G., 2003. Memory function in normal aging. Acta Neurologica Scandinavica, 107, pp.7-13.
- Memel, M., Woolverton, C.B., Bourassa, K. and Glisky, E.L., 2019. Working memory predicts subsequent episodic memory decline during healthy cognitive aging: Evidence from a cross-lagged panel design. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, 26(5), pp.711-730.
- Mitchell, D.B., 1989. How many memory systems? Evidence from aging. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 15(1), p.31.
- Lee, J. and Kim, H.J., 2022. Normal aging induces changes in the brain and neurodegeneration progress: review of the structural, biochemical, metabolic, cellular, and molecular changes. Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 14, p.931536.
- Hall, C.B., Verghese, J., Sliwinski, M., Chen, Z., Katz, M., Derby, C. and Lipton, R.B., 2005. Dementia incidence may increase more slowly after age 90: results from the Bronx Aging Study. Neurology, 65(6), pp.882-886.
- 9 Differences between Normal Ageing and Dementia. Dementia Hub SG. https://www.dementiahub.sg/what-is-dementia/9-differences-between-normal-ageing-dementia/. Accessed: 8th September. 2025.
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