Family Forgetfulness: Don't Panic Yet—Understand the Signs of Dementia and Next Steps
Dementia is not a part of normal aging, but many older adults will never develop it. If an older adult gets lost in familiar places or uses unusual expressions to refer to common objects, it is advisable to consult a professional and understand the cause before taking action.
Machine translation of our Chinese article, without human translation review. Suggestions concerning China remain specific to China.
Automatically reviewed, without human verification. Programmatic checks are not professional review. Seek professional advice where appropriate. Automatically reviewed on 10/4/2026, 7:14:25 AM
Chinese fact summaries and suggestions for China (not a full translation)
Original: Signs and Symptoms of Dementia | Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia | CDC · Original language: en
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Facts from the sources
Dementia is not a part of normal aging; it impairs the ability to remember, think clearly, and make everyday decisions. View source
It is estimated that 6.9 million older adults aged 65 and older in the United States have dementia, about 10.9% of the U.S. population (approximately 1 in 9 people). View source
Many older adults will not develop dementia in their lifetime. View source
Normal aging may include weakening of muscles and bones, hardening of arteries and blood vessels, and some age-related memory changes. View source
Signs that may suggest dementia include getting lost in familiar neighborhoods and using unusual words to refer to familiar objects. View source
When any of the above signs appear, you may consult a health care provider to understand the cause of the changes and determine next steps. View source
For older people and families
If you notice that an older adult's memory is getting worse, write it down first, and don't rush to call it dementia.
If an older adult gets lost in a neighborhood where they have lived for many years, pay attention.
An older adult using uncommon words to refer to very familiar objects may also be a sign.
Normal aging also brings changes in muscles, bones, and blood vessels; these are not necessarily cognitive problems.
Before taking the older adult to see a doctor, you can write down clearly the timing and examples of the changes.
Consulting a doctor is to find out the cause, not to jump to a conclusion immediately.
Most older adults will not develop dementia; do not worry excessively because of one forgetful incident.
While caring for the older adult, also take care of yourself; caregiving is a long-term matter.
See what care and community teams can do
When carrying out cognitive health public education in communities or institutions, first make clear that dementia is not the same as normal aging.
Train staff to recognize warning signs such as getting lost and abnormal word use, but do not diagnose on their own.
Establish a referral process; when signs appear, recommend that family members take the older adult to a professional institution for assessment.
Collect descriptions of changes in the older adult's behavior to provide reference information for professionals.
For older adults who already have cognitive problems, consider their abilities and safety when designing activities.
Regularly organize family communication meetings to provide caregiving skills and psychological support.
Statistical prevalence does not equal individual risk; avoid creating panic in publicity.
Implementing such services requires conditions for collaboration among medical, social work, elderly care, and other parties.
What needs local assessment
This content is written based on information published by the U.S. CDC in August 2024. It is only for general science communication and does not constitute diagnostic standards or policies in China. U.S. prevalence data do not equal the situation in China, nor do they equal individual risk. Signs such as getting lost and abnormal word use may be caused by other reasons. Whether to seek medical care and how to assess should be decided jointly by the older adult, family members, and professional medical personnel. Services in China should be implemented according to local medical and elderly care resource conditions. Source of facts: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Source: CDC). The original material is freely available on the CDC website. This website and the China-specific recommendations do not represent endorsement by CDC, HHS, or the U.S. government; no images or logos of theirs have been reproduced.
Sources
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Was this article helpful?
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