Mild Forgetfulness Is Often a Normal Part of Aging

Misplacing your keys at 70 feels more alarming than misplacing them at 30. The U.S. National Institute on Aging offers some reassurance. As people grow older, changes occur in all parts of the body, including the brain. Older adults may notice that it takes longer to learn something new, and they may occasionally misplace things or forget to pay a bill. According to the institute, these changes are usually signs of mild forgetfulness and are often a normal part of aging. It draws a firm line, however: forgetfulness can be a normal part of aging, but dementia is not. Serious memory problems are those that make it hard to do everyday things such as driving, using the phone and finding the way home. The institute’s advice is to talk with a doctor about noticeable changes in memory.