As we age, our memory gradually begins to decline, and it can be difficult to differentiate between normal age-related changes and early signs of dementia in a loved one.

It’s normal to forget things occasionally, like where they left their car keys or having difficulty remembering why they’ve entered a room, but serious memory problems make it difficult to do everyday tasks.

“Forgetting things as we age is expected and very common,” says Dr. William Epperson, a physician at Tidelands Health Family Medicine at Prince Creek. “The first thing people tend to lose is short-term memory.”

Dementia is an umbrella term for the loss of memory and overall thinking abilities. Some common types of dementia include Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia, mixed dementia and young-onset dementia.

Early signs of dementia include:

• Forgetting important dates or events
• Asking the same questions repeatedly
• Trouble following recipes or directions, or keeping track of monthly bills
• Difficulty navigating familiar locations
• Becoming easily confused about time, people and places

Dr. Epperson says if your loved one is experiencing any of these symptoms regularly, regardless of age, it’s time to see a doctor.

“What we’re looking for is if they’ve lost enough memory function to where they are no longer able to care for themselves appropriately,” Dr. Epperson says.

While there is no cure for dementia, treatment may be available for specific types of dementia and their causes, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. For those with Alzheimer’s disease, medications that slow its progression or mitigate symptoms may be prescribed.

For others, non-drug therapy may be beneficial. Dr. Epperson recommends older adults work their brains every day, even if they’re not showing signs of memory loss.

Some studies show that cognitively stimulating leisure activities may delay the onset of memory decline and improve cognitive reserve.

“A lot of my patients enjoy playing Rummikub or doing crossword puzzles daily,” Dr. Epperson says.

Dr. Epperson recommends talking with your loved one about your concerns sooner rather than later. Many people with dementia also experience delusions, which can take the form of paranoia, making it difficult to have these types of conversations at a later stage. This conversation can help facilitate scheduling an appointment with a provider, creating a health care power of attorney and updating patient consent forms. 

Tidelands Health Neurosciences also offers non-invasive, in-office memory tests. This test will tell the provider the severity of memory retention and help determine a patient’s plan of care. Call 1-866-TIDELANDS for more information or to schedule an appointment. 

If you believe your loved one is a danger to themselves or others, call 911 or bring them to an emergency department.