‘That’s just normal forgetting’: the difference between memory loss and dementia – and how to protect your brain

The odd memory lapse is no big deal - so when should we start to worry? Experts explain, and share the best ways to stay sharp

Isn't it Sod's Law? Just at the point in ourlives when we start seriously considering our long-term health and mortality - perhaps after witnessing older loved ones getting an illness such as dementia - our responsibilities are piled so high that we can feel as if we're losing our mental capacities already. The names of our favourite animals and humans become an interchangeable word soup. Our keys become increasingly elusive. Alerts must be set on all calendar entries.

But how can we tell whether this frustrating flakiness is a reflection of age-related cognitive decline; the early signs of our own impending dementia; or merely an overly taxing phase from which we will recover? Could it even just be normal forgetfulness? We're not robots, after all.