Forgetting names? How to tell normal aging from dementia

Nearly 1 in 5 Americans is now 65 or older, and research shows that nearly 1 in 10 adults over 65 has dementia, according to a study published in the journal JAMA Neurology. Another 22% have mild cognitive impairment, a stage between normal cognitive aging and dementia.

Older Black Americans are about twice as likely as older white Americans to have Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Yet a roughly equal share of Black and white adults report experiencing mild cognitive impairment.

Much of the increased risk among Black Americans comes from the social determinants of health linked to socioeconomic status. These include access to doctors, affordable medication, healthy food and safe, walkable neighborhoods, according to noted geriatrician Dr. Sharon Brangman.

Brangman directs the Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease at State University of New York Upstate University Hospital. Word In Black asked her how to tell normal aging from the onset of dementia. The following has been edited for length and clarity. If you notice persistent changes in memory, talk with a licensed health care provider.

Word In Black (WIB): What, in general, is normal aging?

Dr. Sharon Brangman: Cognitive aging is just the fancy word for what our brains go through as we get older, and it’s a normal process. Many people think aging is a disease, but our brains change just like the rest of our body. You might find it takes longer to process new information, but your brain can still process it.

So, you may be talking, and a word is on the tip of your tongue, or you see someone coming toward you and you just can’t remember their name. It takes a little longer to pull it out of the deep recesses of your brain, but you can do it.

WIB: What’s the average onset of these changes?

Brangman: Most people begin noticing [these changes] in their 50s or 60s, but it is highly individual and should be judged against a person’s own lifelong baseline.

Some things also get better, or stay stable, as we get older. Our experiences, our general knowledge and wisdom either stay stable or might even improve over time. Our vocabulary and our language don’t change either. Then there’s our procedural memory, the things we know how to do, like ride a bike or play an instrument. That doesn’t decline as we get older.

We can always learn. It may take us a little longer. We might have to try different techniques, like talking out loud, writing it down or seeing it a few times, but you can keep learning.

WIB: Do reading more, doing crossword puzzles or playing word games help with memory?

Brangman: Those haven’t been shown to really improve your memory or reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease. [Still,] you want to keep building those little nerve connections in your brain by reading, listening to music and socializing in person.

WIB: When should people really start saying, “Hey, something’s wrong”?

Brangman: If someone is starting to have trouble getting through the day because of their memory, that’s when to get concerned.

For example, if you’re taking a lot of pills, you might forget a pill here and there. But if you forget your pills for a period of time, or you forget to get them refilled, then I’d be concerned. Also, having trouble figuring out how to get to a location they’ve been to before, or being unable to solve a problem in a new situation.

Also, if someone’s hygiene starts to change, or they have trouble selecting clothes, so they wear the same thing every day. When you start to see the memory problem cause a change in everyday function, that’s a concern.

WIB: What is often overlooked when we think of the social determinants of health?

Brangman: There’s not a racial predisposition to getting dementia. It has to do with questions like, “Can you get to the doctor? Can you get fresh groceries?”

Probably the biggest thing you can do to age well, not just for your brain but for your whole body, is walk every day for about 30 minutes, or get 150 minutes a week of walking. But in some neighborhoods, that’s not safe or possible.

Stress is also emerging as a big risk factor. Under stress, our bodies make more cortisol, which puts you at risk for getting hypertension and diabetes. The stress can be related to your job, experiencing racism, figuring out if your kids are safe, if you can afford your rent and groceries and gas. All of those little things add up over time and have a detrimental effect on our health.

WIB: How can people maintain their physical fitness during the winter?

Brangman: I say go to one of those big-box stores and walk around in the store.

WIB: What do you suggest for handling stress during our stressful times?

Brangman: I had a patient who sat all day watching breaking news, and his anxiety and depression level was so high. I essentially told him to turn off his TV. I said, “Turn on some music that you enjoy. Get a book.” Limit your exposure to very negative news.

Where to get help

The Alzheimer’s Association runs a free 24/7 helpline at 800-272-3900 for people with memory concerns and their caregivers. More information is at alz.org.

In Minnesota, Minnesota Aging Pathways, formerly the Senior LinkAge Line, connects older adults and caregivers to local services. Call 800-333-2433, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or chat at mn.gov/aging-pathways.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Word In Black and has been edited for length, clarity and style. The MSR added the list of local resources. For the original, visit www.wordinblack.com/2026/10/on-the-tip-of-my-tongue-is-it-just-aging-or-something-else/.

Jennifer Porter Gore is a contributing writer for Word in Black.