Memory and aging are associated with each other because it has been noticed that older people have a tendency to forget a lot of things. As we age, the way our brain stores and recalls information may also change.

Short term memory like what you ate for breakfast or where you went last night isn’t usually what is affected.  Long term memories such childhood memories also aren’t usually affected. It is the more recent memory which contains events that happened a few days ago, or a few hours ago that might be the things you forget.

Getting a little bit forgetful is natural and nothin to worry about.  Here are some ways you can counteract the forgetfulness that comes with aging:

• Note down important events you need to attend to. Keep lists if needed.
• If you can, follow a routine. Develop the habit of good organization, such as keeping your shoes in one area, keeping canned goods in a separate area.
• Use special marks such as landmarks, to find places.
• When you meet someone for the first time, repeat their name as you are introduced.  This will help you to remember it moments later when you want to get their attention.
  Use a detailed calendar.
• When trying to find the right word, run through the alphabet. Knowing the first letter of the word you are trying to remember will only confuse you more.

A little loss of memory and aging can be normal, but if you are becoming overly forgetful, you might want to schedule a visit to your doctor to rule out anything more serious.

You may also want to consider taking a nutritional supplement, like Intelliboost, that contains many of the natural herbs that have shown promise in memory retention and focus.

Dementia is a condition where there is regression in the mental ability of one person. This usually occurs in any stage of adulthood, which first made it linked to aging. The following are some symptoms with brief explanations to emphasize the difference between aging and dementia syndromes.

Memory fluctuations or loss. At first, people with dementia complaining of not remembering a few things is really similar to someone getting old. Later, it will be noticed that people with dementia will even forget names and faces of people they know, even those they interact with in a daily basis.

• People with dementia will eventually forget how to do certain activities, including those that they regularly do.
• While misplacing things is somewhat common, people with dementia become very unaware that they might put their shoe in the fridge.
• Time and place incomprehension. While with normal aging, people sometimes becomes unsure of the date. They sometimes forget the places they are familiar with, but when given a little time, they will eventually remember it. People with dementia literally get lost in places they have known for a long time.
• Changes in personality. They have a tendency to become a “different” person. While everyone has the possibility to change, people with dementia will show drastic change of self.
• Mood swings. Everybody becomes moody sometimes. But with people suffering from this condition, their mood swings happen within minutes.
• Problems with other mental abilities. They may become very hard to understand, since they might use wrong words unknowingly. They might jumble words in their search for the right terms.
  While numbers are sometimes so confusing, people with dementia may even forget what numbers are. They might even wonder what they are for.

Aging and dementia may have similarities with the symptoms. However, the severity of the condition defines the differences. As soon as these symptoms are noticed, it is best to consult a professional.