Is It Aging or Dementia? How to Spot the Early Warning Signs
Published on June 18, 2026
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Maybe your mom misplaced her wallet (again). Or your husband got in the car and couldn’t remember where he wanted to go. Or your grandma has been having trouble with a card game she’s been playing since childhood. Incidents like these may seem like signs of changes in brain functioning, but are they? And if they are, what happens next?
While forgetfulness can be a natural part of aging, it can also be a warning sign of dementia, and there are ways to tell the difference.
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Surprising Early Signs of Dementia
Memory loss isn't always the first sign of dementia. Watch out for these signs and consult a healthcare provider if you notice them.
Read MoreWhat Is Dementia?
Dementia is an umbrella term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving, and other thinking abilities. These symptoms are severe enough to interfere with daily life and are caused by abnormal brain changes.
While Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, other types include Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and vascular dementia.
Dementia typically develops slowly, with symptoms gradually intensifying over time. But it can progress differently for everyone.
Common Warning Signs of Dementia
While occasional forgetfulness is typical with age, having serious memory issues that make it difficult to do everyday activities is a common warning sign of dementia. “I think what people picture most often is memory,” says Cotenna Clark, NP, of Emory University’s Integrated Memory Care Clinic in Atlanta, who specializes in caring for older adults. “Mom can't remember this. Dad can't remember that.”
However, many people don't realize that the condition is broader than just memory. “In fact, it affects every area of their life,” says Clark.
In addition to memory changes, Clark says other possible signs of dementia include:
- Difficulty performing familiar tasks
- Disorientation or confusion
- Communication issues, like problems carrying a conversation or making plans with others
- Poor judgment
- Personality changes
- Mood changes
More Subtle Warning Signs of Dementia
Sometimes the first signs of dementia may be changes in a person’s habits and behavior.
Take poor judgment, for example. Someone with dementia may frequently make poor decisions. “It may be as simple as in the bathroom,” says Clark. “Instead of dropping the tissue in the toilet, they may put it on the floor or in the trash can.”
Another common example that Clark has observed: “Someone may spend more money than they realize.”
A fluctuating mood can also be an important warning sign of dementia. When someone starts becoming unusually depressed or anxious without a specific cause, it may suggest that their brain functioning is changing, says Clark. And these changes don’t always result in negative moods. If your loved one becomes more affectionate or romantic than usual, this may signal brain changes, too.
Apathy can be another signal, Clark says. “I’ve had families say to me, ‘I noticed that Dad just wasn't interested in golfing anymore or meeting his friends once a month like they've done forever.’ Or ‘Mom has declined the last three invitations to go out and play bridge. I don't know what's wrong with her. She just wants to sit at the kitchen table and stare out the window.’”
Because we don’t often think to connect changes in behavior and habits like these to dementia, we may think the person is becoming lazy or out of touch. “It's often hard to understand why all of a sudden Mom or Dad has become a couch potato when that was never their lifestyle previously,” Clark says.
Considering Other Causes
Some changes in memory, thinking, and behavior may be consequences of typical aging, health changes, or life events.
For example, disorientation is very closely linked to dementia, but Clark says that temporary bouts of confusion can be signals of pain or even infection.
What’s more, because some memory changes are common with age, it’s important not to jump to conclusions when you witness a case of someone misremembering something. Older adults may simply recall facts like names or calendar events more slowly than when they were younger.
Changes in thinking and behavior can happen when people are experiencing elevated stress or working through major life transitions. For example, older adults may forget details more easily if they're multitasking, overwhelmed, or grieving a recent death. Occasional mistakes like this are common and may not be cause for concern.
When weighing whether a warning sign may be a true indicator of brain changes, it can be helpful to consider if there may be other causes based on the circumstances of a person’s life.
What to Do if You See Possible Signs of Dementia
If you feel like someone you care about may be exhibiting early signs of dementia, a good first step is to talk to them about it. This may look different depending on each family’s dynamics, but here are a few tips that can help steer the conversation in a positive direction:
Be clear but not combative. When describing what you’ve noticed, hold back any impulse to shame or belittle your loved one. It can be helpful to maintain a calm voice and steady body language, rather than escalating the conversation. If you approach your loved one with a confrontational tone, they're more likely to shut down or become defensive.
Ask if they’ve noticed anything. Clark says that it’s helpful to ask the person you're caring for how they've been feeling and what they’ve been noticing, especially if you have a close relationship. For example, you might say, “Mom, I'm a little concerned. I've noticed some things over the past couple of months. You're going into a room two or three times and forgetting what you went there for. I'm not saying that you have dementia, but I know this can be a warning sign. What are your thoughts about that?"
Talk to other family members or friends. If the person you’re trying to help is more resistant or closed off, it may be useful to first talk with other family members or close friends about what they think. If everyone gets on the same page, you can come up with a plan to have a conversation as a group. If the person you’re concerned about is a sibling or spouse, it may be helpful to suggest you both explore doing screening tests together.
Encourage them to see a clinician. If the person you're concerned about agrees to seek care, the best first step is to speak with a trusted clinician like a primary care provider (PCP) or a nurse practitioner. This clinician may not be able to make a diagnosis on their own, but it’s important to at least get the concern documented before seeing other specialists.
If the person you care about insists they're not experiencing brain changes or refuses to see a clinician, it may be helpful to encourage them to seek medical guidance without alluding to dementia. For example, you might say, “I know you’ve been feeling a little out of it lately, and I think talking to someone can help you learn more and get support. Can I help you make an appointment?” You can also offer to go with them to the appointment.
Be kind and supportive during the conversation, and remind them that memory issues don’t always point toward dementia. You may consider keeping a diary of events to help track your worries over time.
Getting Specialty Help
PCPs often refer their patients to a neurologist or other specialists who can take a closer look at concerns and use additional diagnostic tools. Your PCP might refer you to specialists like neurologists, neuropsychologists, geriatricians, geriatric psychiatrists, speech-language pathologists (also called speech therapists), occupational therapists, and social workers. Specialty providers can also offer expert support to caregivers.
If you’re not sure where to turn or what to do, the Alzheimer’s Association’s free 24-7 Helpline (800-272-3900) offers care consultations with dementia experts to help provide individualized, solution-focused support to families.
The Takeaway
- While occasional forgetfulness and other memory issues can be a natural part of aging, serious memory issues that interfere with everyday life can be a warning sign of dementia.
- Other possible signs of dementia include difficulty performing familiar tasks, disorientation or confusion, communication issues, poor judgment, personality changes, and mood changes.
- If you think that someone you care about may be exhibiting early signs of dementia, a good first step is to talk to them about it. Ask them if they’ve noticed anything out of the ordinary, and encourage them to see a clinician. Be kind and supportive. Knowing what to look for, how to respond, and where to go for help will help you both navigate the uncertainty of dementia together.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
- Memory Problems, Forgetfulness, and Aging. National Institute on Aging. November 22, 2023.
- What Is Dementia? Alzheimer’s Association.
- Infographic: Understanding Different Types of Dementia. National Institute on Aging. June 5, 2025.
- Signs and Symptoms of Dementia. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. August 14, 2024.
- 10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer's and Dementia. Alzheimer’s Association.
- Memory Lapse or Dementia? 5 Clues to Help Tell the Difference. Johns Hopkins Medicine.
- 10 Steps to Approach Memory Concerns in Others. Alzheimer’s Association.
- Tips for Caregivers and Families of People With Dementia. Alzheimers.gov. January 26, 2026.
- Haye S. Impact of Primary Care Provider's on Dementia Symptom Management and Healthcare Use. Alzheimer’s & Dementia. December 23, 2025.
- How to offer help to someone with dementia who doesn’t want it. Alzheimer’s Society. November 26, 2024 .
- Resources for Health Care Providers: Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias. Alzheimers.gov. January 26, 2026.
- 24/7 Helpline. Alzheimer’s Association.
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Emily L. Mroz, PhD, is currently an assistant professor in the School of Nursing at Emory University. She is a psychologist who conducts research focusing on adult development and ...