Almost 40 per cent of people over the age of 65 experience some form of memory loss but how can we tell the difference between age-associated memory impairment and Dementia. Alzheimer’s Canada has identified the following differences:

Normal aging: not being able to remember details of a conversation or event that took place a year ago.

Dementia: not being able to recall details of recent events or conversations.

Normal aging: not being able to remember the name of an acquaintance.

Dementia: not recognizing or knowing the names of family members

Normal aging: forgetting things and events occasionally

Dementia: forgetting things or events more frequently

Normal aging: occasionally have difficulty finding words

Dementia: frequent pauses and substitutions when finding words

Normal aging: you are worried about your memory but your relatives are not

Dementia: your relatives are worried about your memory, but you are not aware of any problems

Source: http://www.alzheimer.ca/en/About-dementia/What-is-dementia/Normal-aging-vs-dementia