Top 5 Ways to Tell Memory Lapses From Dementia

Memory lapses caused by stress, lack of sleep, or medication side effects can cause you to sometimes put your shoes in the wrong place or forget where you left your keys. But if losing items is a common occurrence – especially if you struggle to find them later, or suspect someone stole them – that may signal a deeper issue with your brain function.

Like everyone, you may pause sometimes to search for a temporarily forgotten word. But with dementia, this happens with common words, or names and phrases you know well. You might mix up words, like using “bed” for “table.” It’s hard to have conversations when there are gaps in your word recall. This condition is aphasia. It affects the way you write, talk, and understand other speech and writing.

Maybe you forgot to take the trash out or feed the dog once or twice. That’s a memory lapse. But dementia can make it hard for you to remember daily tasks like taking your medication, tracking your money, taking showers, and brushing your teeth. These can be signs you need extra help to stay safe and healthy. 

Getting turned around while navigating a new place is typical. Forgetting where you are when driving to your job of 30 years isn’t. It may take you a while to realize you’re lost when you have dementia. Reading maps and recognizing landmarks can be difficult, which increases your feeling of disorientation.

You’ve likely heard others say, “I’m not even sure what day it is” when they’re overwhelmed and stressed. That’s normal. With dementia, this “lost time” is pronounced as your cerebellum is damaged. It causes dyschronometria, a condition where you can’t tell how much time is passing. You may think a family member has been missing for a long time when they’ve only run to the store for 20 minutes. This leads to distress.