Some memory changes are a normal part of aging. However, certain changes are not considered normal and should be evaluated by a healthcare professional. Understanding the difference can help you or a loved one seek help early, when treatments and planning can be most effective.

When you start to suspect memory loss in a parent, your mind can race straight to worst-case scenarios. Dementia. Alzheimer’s. Losing the person you know. But memory problems don’t always mean something permanent or progressive. Stress, depression, medications, infections, sleep problems, and vitamin deficiencies can all affect memory—and many of these can be treated.

Anosognosia is a neurological condition where the brain can't recognize its cognitive or psychiatric illness.

With MCI, you can still manage most daily tasks. Most people with MCI don’t progress into Dementia, but they are at a greater risk.