As we start to age, our brains tend to not hold up as well as they used to. Memory loss, being the most prominent symptom of aging, can also be seen in dementia. But things other than memory loss involved with dementia are not a part of the aging process. So when it comes to brain health, it’s helpful to know what’s normal and what’s not.
Although normal brain aging can result in difficulty multitasking, memory, and skills, the knowledge within a person remains with age and may even increase. Here’s the difference between aging and dementia.
What is Aging?
Aging is something we can never stop. Our minds and bodies undergo slow changes as we get older. Some of these changes impact our physical and mental capacities, as well as our illness risk.
Each of us feels differently about aging and how it can affect our lives. However, how we feel about our age can change over many years. Therefore, the moment it becomes more visible differs from person to person.
Common Aging Problems
The natural process of aging contains many symptoms, from memory loss to other cognitive abilities. While those who suffer memory loss may be concerned, specific symptoms are part of normal aging and are not caused by dementia.
Here are the signs of memory loss caused by the natural aging process:
- A slight lag in locating words
- Losing or misplacing items regularly
- Having a habit of forgetting important talks, meetings, or events
- New people’s names are difficult to recall
- Following the flow of a discussion is difficult
What is Dementia?
Dementia is a condition characterized by a decline in cognitive function that goes beyond what would be anticipated due to biological aging. Things such as memory, cognition, orientation, understanding, and learning capacity are all affected.
During this state of consciousness is unaffected. However, changes in mood, emotional control, behavior, or motivation are frequently associated with cognitive impairment.
Dementia is caused by various diseases and disorders that damage the brain directly or indirectly, such as Alzheimer’s disease or stroke.
Signs and Symptoms
Dementia is not a natural component of the aging process. Instead, it refers to the loss of cognitive and behavioral abilities, such as thinking and remembering, affecting the regular quality of life and activities.
Memory loss is a part of dementia, but it is not the only one. Patients with this condition may also struggle with verbal abilities, visual perception, and attention. In addition, some people experience personality shifts.
Dementia can affect each person differently, depending on the underlying reasons, other health issues, and cognitive performance before the onset of the illness.
Aging vs. Dementia
Dementia can be diagnosed with an MRI, cognitive testing, and a complete medical history review. Unfortunately, dementia cannot be cured, although certain drugs can help control the symptoms briefly.
Although a person’s intellectual level remains essentially constant, the brain and body slow down during the aging process. As a result, you or a family member may begin to notice changes in memory, such as difficulty recalling the names of locations and individuals.
You may also notice that some information takes longer to register and that your mental and physical flexibility declines. Dementia, on the other hand, has a broader range of symptoms that are more frequent and disturbing.
Things you can do
Smoking should be avoided in your later years, and getting some high physical exercise is recommended. This is because exercise helps alter the immunological responses of the brain by facilitating oxygen and growth factors.
You should also obtain routine medical attention. Illnesses in your body have an impact on your brain’s capacity to operate correctly. Along with this, you should build social support networks to relieve stress, stimulate the intellect, and share the aging process with other individuals who have similar symptoms.
As you age, you should continue to engage in things that challenge and interest you for as long as possible. If your concern continues to rise, you can seek help from a medical specialist.
Sources: https://wwwDementia.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia