As we get older, we’re likely to notice some changes in our mental abilities. Though these changes can be frustrating, for most of us they are part of the natural process of ageing.But dementia is different. It’s not a normal part of getting older.

Dementia is a medical condition, so it’s not something you can diagnose yourself, unless you have specialist skills and knowledge. The most important thing to know, if you’re having problems with your memory or thinking, is when to see your GP.

Dementia is different from ‘just getting old’ because:

• Your mental abilities become noticeably worse over several months, as opposed to more gradual changes over many years.
• You find it increasingly difficult to manage everyday tasks and activities by yourself.

Sometimes it can be hard to see these changes in yourself. You may need to listen to people close to you. 

If they say that something’s not right, or if they’re worried about you, it could be a good idea to check in with your GP. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you have dementia – just that something might be wrong. 

What's the difference between normal ageing and dementia?

People often forget things more as they get older. Most often this is a normal sign of ageing. If a problem is mildly annoying but doesn’t affect your ability to do things in everyday life, then it’s unlikely to be a sign of dementia.

For example, many people find as they get older that they are more likely to:

• Forget the names of people they don’t know well.
• Have difficulty taking in new information as quickly they used to.
• Misplace items, such as keys or glasses.
• Miss the occasional appointment or birthday.
• Not be able to find the right word during a conversation.
• Struggle with new technology, such as apps and smart devices.
• Need to take a bit longer to think things through.

For most people, these are not early signs of dementia.

Dementia is a group of symptoms. It’s caused by different diseases that damage the brain.

The symptoms of dementia may be small to start with, but get worse over time and include:

• Memory loss.
• Confusion and needing help with daily tasks.
• Problems with language and understanding.
• Changes in mood, behaviour or personality.

Below are some examples of some of the possible signs of dementia compared to more typical signs of normal ageing.It’s important not to use this information to try to diagnose dementia in yourself or someone else. Dementia can only be diagnosed by a qualified health professional.

Possible signs of dementia:

• Forgetting something you were only recently told. You may ask for the same information repeatedly – for example, 'Are the doors locked?'
• Putting objects in unusual places – for example, putting your house keys in the refrigerator.
• Being unable to learn new tasks, like how to use a new washing machine.

Common signs of ageing:

• Forgetting something you were told a while ago, or where you put something, like your phone, but being able to retrace your steps to find it.

Possible signs of dementia:

• Getting very confused when planning or thinking things through.
• Struggling to stay focused on a single task.
• Not making informed, careful decisions when dealing with money or looking at risks.
• Finding it hard to manage regular payments, budgets or monthly bills.

Common signs of ageing:

• Being a bit slower to process things and hold onto details. 
• You might occasionally make a mistake if you’re following a new process.

Possible signs of dementia:

• Having frequent problems finding the right word or regularly referring to objects as 'that thing'.
• Finding it hard to take part in conversations.
• Regularly being unable to follow what someone is saying even without distractions.

Common signs of ageing:

• Occasionally struggling to find the right word or to follow a conversation, but only when there are distractions.

Possible signs of dementia:

• Losing track of the date, season or the passage of time.
• Getting lost in a place that is familiar or that should be easy to find your way around – for example, a supermarket.
• Regularly being unable to follow what someone is saying even without distractions.

Common signs of ageing:

• Getting briefly confused about the day or the week but quickly realising.
• You might find that you get lost in a place you don’t know well, but are able to figure out where you need to be.

Possible signs of dementia:

• Having problems making sense of what you see. For example, having difficulty judging distances on stairs, or mistaking reflections or patterns for other objects.

Common signs of ageing:

• Having misty or cloudy vision, caused by cataracts or other changes in the eyes.

Possible signs of dementia:

• Becoming withdrawn and losing interest in work, friends or hobbies.
• Feeling unusually sad, anxious, frightened or low in confidence.
• Getting easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places that usually feel comfortable or familiar.

Common signs of ageing: 

• Sometimes feeling anxious and reluctant to join in at work, family and social meetings.
• Being irritated when a routine is disrupted, but being able to cope with the change.

Use our symptoms checklist to make notes about any concerns you may have before visiting your GP.

Many of us get a little more forgetful as we get older. Most people will need a bit longer to remember things, get distracted more easily or struggle to multi-task as well as they once did. This may become noticeable particularly from middle age - usually taken as during our 40s, 50s and early 60s - onwards.

These changes are normal, but they can be a nuisance and at times frustrating. However, you may worry that these things are an early sign of dementia. It's important not to worry too much about this. For most people, these changes will be the result of normal ageing and won't be down to dementia.

What is dementia and what are the symptoms?

Dementia is the term for a group of symptoms that occur when the brain is damaged by diseases. This includes Alzheimer's disease or diseases of the blood vessels that can cause a stroke. These diseases can cause a significant decline in a person's mental abilities or 'cognitive function' - our capacity for things like memory, thinking and reasoning.

For a doctor to diagnose dementia, a person's symptoms must have become bad enough to significantly affect their daily life, not just be an occasional minor irritation. This means having new problems with everyday activities about the house, in the community or at work. For example, starting to have problems paying household bills, using the phone, managing medicines, driving safely or meeting up with friends.

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