The incidence then goes up for a few years but often decreases for the very elderly. The fact remains that many of us will face problems with dementia in our parents, spouse, friends, or even in ourselves. Some memory loss is normal as we age. A defining characteristic of dementia is significant progressive loss of memory, judgment, and other mental skills. Eventually this can limit a person's ability to handle everyday activities.
Symptoms can range from depression to agitation and tend to vary widely from patient to patient.
Impaired judgment is often a serious concern. Never assume that confusion, disorientation, or loss of memory is normal. Be sure to tell your doctor about any symptoms you identify. Some causes of these problems are reversible, such as anemia. In other patients, symptoms may be treatable, such as those caused by low thyroid activity.