| Behavior | Normal Aging | Possible Dementia Sign |
|---|---|---|
| Forgetting names | Remembers later | Never remembers |
| Misplacing keys | Finds them by retracing steps | Puts in bizarre places; accuses others |
| Missing a bill payment | Once in a while | Repeatedly, or pays same bill 3× |
| Getting lost | In new places | On familiar routes |
| Mood changes | Explained by life events | Sudden, unexplained swings |
| Trouble with new technology | Learns slowly | Can’t learn at all |
Real Stories That Hit Home
Mary (73): “Mom kept hiding her purse and accusing the cleaner of stealing. We laughed it off — until she put $8,000 in the oven ‘for safekeeping.’ Diagnosis: early Alzheimer’s.
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