Almost 40 percent of people over the age of 65 experience some form of memory loss, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
If there isn’t an underlying medical condition causing memory loss, it is considered a normal part of the aging process. Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are not part of normal aging. Alzheimer’s is a degenerative disease of the brain affecting memory, thinking and behavior.
Symptoms may develop slowly, but they will progress over time. You can distinguish between age-associated memory impairment and possible Alzheimer’s disease by looking at symptoms. Here are some examples:
| Signs of Normal Aging | Signs of Dementia |
|---|---|
| Sometimes forgetting names or appointments—but remembering them later | Memory loss that disrupts daily life |
| Making occasional errors when balancing a checkbook | Challenges in planning or solving problems |
| Occasionally needing help to use the settings on a microwave or to record a TV show | Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, work or leisure |
| Confused about day of the week—but figuring it out later | Confusion with time or place |
| Vision changes related to cataracts | Trouble understanding images and spatial relationships |
| Sometimes having trouble finding the right word | New problems with words in speaking or writing |
| Misplacing things and retracing steps to find them | Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace and find them |
| Making a bad decision once in a while | Decreased or poor judgment |
| Feeling weary of work, family and social obligations | Withdrawal from work or social activities |
| Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted | Changes in mood and personality |
If you notice any warning signs that could indicate dementia, don’t ignore them. Contact your doctor. Early detection and treatment can help delay progression of symptoms and help patients maintain independence longer.
At Lutheran Life Villages, we’re here to help. We offer state-of-the-art residential care specializing in Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Our therapists focus on each person to help those living with dementia to reach their highest functional levels.
Our Memory Care Neighborhoods at the Village at Anthony Boulevard and the Village at Kendallville provide a welcoming, nurturing and structured living environment for people with early-onset, primary-diagnosis Alzheimer’s disease, as well as other forms of dementia and memory loss.
Call us at (260) 447-1591 or learn more here.
Advanced, compassionate services are another reason why nonprofit Lutheran Life Villages is a leader in memory care, senior retirement living and senior healthcare in Northeast Indiana.
