{"id":10140,"date":"2025-09-29T16:37:19","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T21:37:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/?p=10140"},"modified":"2026-01-04T19:14:39","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T00:14:39","slug":"dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/blog\/2025\/09\/29\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\/","title":{"rendered":"Is It Dementia or Normal Forgetfulness? A Caregiver Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"10140\" class=\"elementor elementor-10140\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-66c061d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"66c061d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a798de4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a798de4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Getting older often means noticing small changes in how we think or remember. Misplacing keys, forgetting an appointment, or searching for the right word may feel concerning. Families often wonder: Is it forgetfulness or dementia?<\/p>\n<p>The Alzheimer\u2019s Association reports that over seven million Americans live with Alzheimer\u2019s, the most common type of dementia. While that number is significant, it only accounts for about one in nine older adults.<\/p>\n<p>The likelihood <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC12040760\/\">increases with age<\/a>. About five percent of people between ages 65 and 74 have Alzheimer\u2019s and\/or dementia, 13.2 percent of people ages 75 to 84, and 33.3 percent of people 85 or older.<\/p>\n<p>Understanding the difference between everyday forgetfulness and a possible dementia diagnosis helps families prepare for the future. At Pegasus Landing of Tanglewood in Houston, TX, we provide assisted living and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/memory-care\/\">Connections<\/a> memory care program to support seniors and families experiencing memory loss.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10145\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10145\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"blog-80 wp-image-10145 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/09\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood-dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Tanglewood | Determining Dementia vs. Normal Forgetfulness\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/09\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood-dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/09\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood-dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/09\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood-dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/09\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood-dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10145\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Forgetfulness is a normal part of aging, but when memory loss begins to affect daily life, it may be a sign of dementia. Contact Pegasus Landing of Tanglewood to learn more about memory loss in Houston, TX.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Normal Forgetfulness vs. Dementia<\/h2>\n<p>It is natural for memory to change with age. Older adults may take longer to recall a name, balance several tasks, or learn new technology. These changes do not usually interfere with independence.<\/p>\n<p>Dementia, on the other hand, involves more severe problems that disrupt daily life. Families may notice repeated confusion, getting lost in familiar places, or forgetting important details, such as family members\u2019 names.<\/p>\n<p>As <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/blog\/2022\/04\/07\/signs-of-alzheimers-memory-care-near-me\/\">Dr. Sandra Petersen<\/a>, Senior VP of Health and Wellness, explains:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cAlzheimer\u2019s is not a normal progression of aging. Alzheimer\u2019s results in a pervasive pattern of memory loss that drastically impairs function over time. Normal aging, on the other hand, may result in slower processing speed, slower word recall, and occasional forgetfulness.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2>The Difference Between Forgetfulness and Dementia<\/h2>\n<p>The difference comes down to function. If memory lapses make life harder to manage, dementia may be present.<\/p>\n<p>Examples of normal forgetfulness:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Forgetting why you walked into a room, then remembering later<\/li>\n<li>Missing an appointment, but quickly rescheduling<\/li>\n<li>Needing more reminders or lists to stay organized<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Examples of dementia-related memory loss:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Forgetting how to complete familiar tasks, like cooking a regular meal<\/li>\n<li>Struggling to follow conversations or repeat questions often<\/li>\n<li>Misplacing objects and being unable to retrace steps<\/li>\n<li>Confusing time, place, or familiar people<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Early Signs of Dementia<\/h2>\n<p>Identifying the early signs of dementia can give families more time to plan and seek support. <a href=\"https:\/\/dementiastatistics.org\/about-dementia\/subtypes\/\">Alzheimer\u2019s Research UK<\/a> notes the breakdown of dementia types:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Alzheimer\u2019s (60%)<\/li>\n<li>Vascular dementia (15%)<\/li>\n<li>Mixed dementia (10%)<\/li>\n<li>Dementia with Lewy Bodies (10%)<\/li>\n<li>Frontotemporal dementia (2%)<\/li>\n<li>Parkinson\u2019s dementia (2%)<\/li>\n<li>Other types (1%)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Each condition has different causes, but they share warning signs:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Trouble with memory, especially short-term recall<\/li>\n<li>Difficulty with planning or decision-making<\/li>\n<li>Language problems, like losing track of words<\/li>\n<li>Changes in mood, personality, or behavior<\/li>\n<li>Decline in ability to manage finances or household tasks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Types of Dementia Explained<\/h2>\n<h3>Alzheimer\u2019s<\/h3>\n<p>Alzheimer\u2019s is the most common form of dementia. It typically begins with memory problems, such as forgetting recent conversations or events. As it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/blog\/2024\/11\/26\/causes-alzheimers-dementia-houston\/\">progresses<\/a>, it impacts reasoning, language, and independence. Families may also notice mood shifts or withdrawal.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stages<\/strong>: Early memory lapses, followed by confusion and growing care needs, then severe decline with loss of communication and recognition.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hallmark Quality<\/strong>: Persistent memory loss that makes it hard to form new memories.<\/p>\n<h3>Vascular Dementia<\/h3>\n<p>Vascular dementia results from reduced blood flow to the brain, often linked to strokes. Early signs include slower thinking, difficulty planning, and problems with focus.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stages<\/strong>: Symptoms may progress suddenly after vascular events, creating a step-like decline.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hallmark Quality<\/strong>: Trouble with problem-solving and organization, more than memory loss.<\/p>\n<h3>Mixed Dementia<\/h3>\n<p>Mixed dementia combines two or more types, often Alzheimer\u2019s and vascular dementia. Symptoms overlap, with both memory loss and reasoning issues appearing together.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stages<\/strong>: Progression varies but typically blends traits of the contributing types.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hallmark Quality<\/strong>: A mix of symptoms that makes diagnosis and treatment more complex.<\/p>\n<h3>Dementia with Lewy Bodies<\/h3>\n<p>This type is linked to protein deposits in the brain. Families may notice vivid hallucinations, sleep problems, and sudden shifts in attention. Movement changes are also common.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stages<\/strong>: Gradual decline, with fluctuations in awareness and mobility challenges.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hallmark Quality<\/strong>: Early, detailed visual hallucinations.<\/p>\n<h3>Frontotemporal Dementia<\/h3>\n<p>Frontotemporal dementia affects the brain\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/blog\/2023\/03\/28\/frontotemporal-dementia-treatment-care-diagnosis\/\">frontal and temporal lobes<\/a>. Memory is often intact at first, but language problems, poor judgment, or personality changes emerge early.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stages<\/strong>: Begins in midlife and progresses to include movement and cognitive decline.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hallmark Quality<\/strong>: Dramatic behavior or speech changes, not memory loss.<\/p>\n<h3>Parkinson\u2019s Dementia<\/h3>\n<p>Parkinson\u2019s disease may lead to dementia later on. Symptoms include confusion, slowed thinking, and memory problems alongside tremors and stiffness.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stages<\/strong>: Appears after years of Parkinson\u2019s, with both cognitive and motor decline.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hallmark Quality<\/strong>: Memory issues combined with movement difficulties.<\/p>\n<h3>Other Types of Dementia<\/h3>\n<p>Less common dementias can stem from conditions like Huntington\u2019s or long-term alcohol use. Symptoms may include uncontrolled movements, rapid decline, or severe mood shifts.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hallmark Quality<\/strong>: Unusual or rare features compared to more common forms of dementia.<\/p>\n<h2>Is it Dementia or Something Else?<\/h2>\n<h3>Is It Dementia or Brain Fog?<\/h3>\n<p>Brain fog may occur during times of stress, lack of sleep, or as a side effect of medical treatment. Unlike dementia, brain fog often clears with rest or lifestyle changes. If confusion or forgetfulness continues and interferes with everyday life, dementia may be a concern.<\/p>\n<h3>Is It Depression or Dementia?<\/h3>\n<p>Depression can cause memory issues and a lack of focus, which sometimes looks like dementia. With treatment, these symptoms often improve. Dementia usually continues to worsen over time.<\/p>\n<h3>Is It Anxiety or Dementia?<\/h3>\n<p>Anxiety may lead to forgetfulness, especially when the mind is preoccupied with worry. Unlike dementia, anxious forgetfulness usually improves with treatment or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/blog\/2025\/07\/02\/stress-and-brain-function\/\">stress management<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Is It ADHD or Dementia?<\/h3>\n<p>Some older adults live with undiagnosed ADHD. Difficulty concentrating, restlessness, or forgetfulness may mimic symptoms of dementia. A professional evaluation helps clarify the difference between ADHD and dementia.<\/p>\n<h2>What Tests Are Used to Measure Dementia?<\/h2>\n<p>Medical professionals use several cognitive dementia assessment measures to understand memory changes. These may include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Memory recall tests to check short-term memory<\/li>\n<li>Language assessments to measure naming, vocabulary, and fluency<\/li>\n<li>Problem-solving tasks to assess planning and decision-making<\/li>\n<li>Physical exams and lab work to rule out other conditions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The dementia FAST scale (Functional Assessment Staging Test) may also be used. It outlines seven stages of Alzheimer\u2019s progression, from mild forgetfulness to severe impairment.<\/p>\n<p>Professionals use measuring tools to determine the severity of dementia and create personalized care plans. Families may hear about the MMSE (Mini-Mental State Exam) or MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment). Both test orientation, memory, and attention.<\/p>\n<p>While online quizzes and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/blog\/2022\/02\/09\/home-screening-tools-dementia\/\">at-home tests<\/a> exist, only professional assessments provide reliable results.<\/p>\n<h2>Alzheimer\u2019s and Dementia FAQs<\/h2>\n<h3>What are the types of dementia?<\/h3>\n<p>There are several kinds of dementia, including Alzheimer\u2019s disease, vascular dementia, mixed dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia.<\/p>\n<h3>How many types of dementia are there?<\/h3>\n<p>Medical experts list more than five, but the top five account for nearly all diagnoses.<\/p>\n<h3>What tests are used to measure dementia?<\/h3>\n<p>Doctors may use memory and cognitive tests, medical history, and imaging scans to evaluate brain changes.<\/p>\n<h3>What are the early signs of dementia?<\/h3>\n<p>Forgetting recent events, struggling with daily tasks, personality changes, and language issues are some of the early signs.<\/p>\n<h2>Support for Families<\/h2>\n<p>Families often ask, \u201cIs it dementia?\u201d when memory changes appear. The answer requires careful evaluation by health care providers. It is essential to remember that not every lapse is indicative of dementia, but when changes significantly interfere with independence, professional guidance becomes crucial.<\/p>\n<p>At Pegasus Landing of Tanglewood in Houston, TX, we provide <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/resources\/\">resources<\/a> and care for seniors experiencing memory changes. Through assisted living and the Connections memory care program, we support individuals living with Alzheimer\u2019s and other types of dementia.<\/p>\n<p>The Connections program, created by Dr. Sandra Petersen, uses a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/blog\/2023\/07\/28\/how-to-slow-alzheimers-memory-care\/\">Connect-Move-Learn<\/a>\u201d method to help build new brain pathways, even when memory loss occurs. Music therapy, exercise, brain games, and memory-building activities are included. Families also receive support through educational groups and ongoing guidance.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Determining Forgetfulness vs. Dementia Near You<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>While we do not diagnose Alzheimer\u2019s and other types of dementia, we are here to be a resource in your journey. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/contact\/\">Contact<\/a> the memory care experts at Pegasus Landing of Tanglewood for advice and next steps in Houston, TX. <\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Getting older often means noticing small changes in how we think or remember. Misplacing keys, forgetting an appointment, or searching for the right word may feel concerning. Families often wonder: Is it forgetfulness or dementia? The Alzheimer\u2019s Association reports that over seven million Americans live with Alzheimer\u2019s, the most common type of dementia. While that [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":10152,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[158,159,39,146],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10140","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alzheimers","category-dementia","category-health","category-memory-care"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Determining Dementia vs. Normal Forgetfulness<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn the difference between normal forgetfulness, stress, brain fog, and dementia. Discover early signs, types, and when to seek support for your loved one.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/blog\/2025\/09\/29\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Determining Dementia vs. Normal Forgetfulness\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn the difference between normal forgetfulness, stress, brain fog, and dementia. Discover early signs, types, and when to seek support for your loved one.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/blog\/2025\/09\/29\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Pegasus Landing of Tanglewood\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PegasusatTanglewood\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-09-29T21:37:19+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-05T00:14:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/09\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood-dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness-fb.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Pegasus Senior\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Houston, TX Assisted Living, Memory Care | Pegasus Landing of Tanglewood\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Pegasus Senior\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":[\"Article\",\"BlogPosting\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/29\\\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/29\\\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Pegasus Senior\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5d88e4b6d587e5792325f75b9c673787\"},\"headline\":\"Is It Dementia or Normal Forgetfulness? A Caregiver Guide\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-29T21:37:19+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-05T00:14:39+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/29\\\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1416,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/29\\\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/17\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood-dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness-fb.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Alzheimer's\",\"Dementia\",\"Health\",\"Memory Care\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/29\\\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/29\\\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\\\/\",\"name\":\"Determining Dementia vs. Normal Forgetfulness\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/29\\\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/29\\\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/17\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood-dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness-fb.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-29T21:37:19+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-05T00:14:39+00:00\",\"description\":\"Learn the difference between normal forgetfulness, stress, brain fog, and dementia. Discover early signs, types, and when to seek support for your loved one.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/29\\\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/29\\\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/29\\\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/17\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood-dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness-fb.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/17\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood-dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness-fb.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":630},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/29\\\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Is It Dementia or Normal Forgetfulness? A Caregiver Guide\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/\",\"name\":\"Pegasus Landing of Tanglewood\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Pegasus Landing of Tanglewood\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/17\\\/2024\\\/12\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood-horizontal-logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/17\\\/2024\\\/12\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood-horizontal-logo.png\",\"width\":750,\"height\":236,\"caption\":\"Pegasus Landing of Tanglewood\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/PegasusatTanglewood\\\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\\\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5d88e4b6d587e5792325f75b9c673787\",\"name\":\"Pegasus Senior\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Determining Dementia vs. Normal Forgetfulness","description":"Learn the difference between normal forgetfulness, stress, brain fog, and dementia. Discover early signs, types, and when to seek support for your loved one.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/blog\/2025\/09\/29\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Determining Dementia vs. Normal Forgetfulness","og_description":"Learn the difference between normal forgetfulness, stress, brain fog, and dementia. Discover early signs, types, and when to seek support for your loved one.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/blog\/2025\/09\/29\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\/","og_site_name":"Pegasus Landing of Tanglewood","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PegasusatTanglewood\/","article_published_time":"2025-09-29T21:37:19+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-01-05T00:14:39+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":630,"url":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/09\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood-dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness-fb.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Pegasus Senior","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"Houston, TX Assisted Living, Memory Care | Pegasus Landing of Tanglewood","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Pegasus Senior","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":["Article","BlogPosting"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/blog\/2025\/09\/29\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/blog\/2025\/09\/29\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\/"},"author":{"name":"Pegasus Senior","@id":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/#\/schema\/person\/5d88e4b6d587e5792325f75b9c673787"},"headline":"Is It Dementia or Normal Forgetfulness? A Caregiver Guide","datePublished":"2025-09-29T21:37:19+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-05T00:14:39+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/blog\/2025\/09\/29\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\/"},"wordCount":1416,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/blog\/2025\/09\/29\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/09\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood-dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness-fb.jpg","articleSection":["Alzheimer's","Dementia","Health","Memory Care"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/blog\/2025\/09\/29\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\/","url":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/blog\/2025\/09\/29\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\/","name":"Determining Dementia vs. Normal Forgetfulness","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/blog\/2025\/09\/29\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/blog\/2025\/09\/29\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/09\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood-dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness-fb.jpg","datePublished":"2025-09-29T21:37:19+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-05T00:14:39+00:00","description":"Learn the difference between normal forgetfulness, stress, brain fog, and dementia. Discover early signs, types, and when to seek support for your loved one.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/blog\/2025\/09\/29\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/blog\/2025\/09\/29\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/blog\/2025\/09\/29\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/09\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood-dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness-fb.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/09\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood-dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness-fb.jpg","width":1200,"height":630},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/blog\/2025\/09\/29\/dementia-vs-normal-forgetfulness\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Is It Dementia or Normal Forgetfulness? A Caregiver Guide"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/","name":"Pegasus Landing of Tanglewood","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/#organization","name":"Pegasus Landing of Tanglewood","url":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2024\/12\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood-horizontal-logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2024\/12\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood-horizontal-logo.png","width":750,"height":236,"caption":"Pegasus Landing of Tanglewood"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PegasusatTanglewood\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/#\/schema\/person\/5d88e4b6d587e5792325f75b9c673787","name":"Pegasus Senior"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10140","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/50"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10140"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10140\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10152"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10140"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10140"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-tanglewood\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10140"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}