We’ve all had those awkward moments when we can’t remember a word, or when we spot someone familiar but can’t put a name to the face. As our loved ones age, we may notice this type of thing happening more frequently, and we may worry that it’s more than just age-related memory loss. So how can you tell the difference between normal aging and dementia?
Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
Many people think that Alzheimer’s disease is synonymous with dementia, but it’s actually one type of dementia. There are several others, including Lewy body, Parkinson’s, Vascular, and Frontotemporal, just to name a few.
As the baby boomer generation ages, there is much more focus on Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. While this information is helpful, it is good to remember that 40% of people 65 and older experience some form of memory loss, which is considered a normal part of the aging process.
Differences between memory loss and dementia
