How memory and cognition change with age
As you age, your brain naturally changes. Some things may become harder, such as concentrating and remembering details.
But other cognitive functions may improve, such as having the ability to see the bigger picture in certain situations.
Memory and cognitive changes can also be influenced by factors like:
- stress
- illness
- mental health conditions
- medicines
- reduced hearing or vision
- early signs of dementia.
If you’re worried about things like memory changes or difficulty with daily activities, see your doctor.
Tips for remembering things
You can use memory aids to organise, record and remember important information. For example:
- calendars
- diaries
- journals
- shopping lists
- sticky notes
- electric reminders on your phone and other devices.
You can also colour-code your keys for different locks. And ask your pharmacist to set up a pill case so you remember to take important medicines.
Be kind to yourself
It’s important to be kind to yourself. Relax and take your time when you need to remember things. And don’t be hard on yourself if you forget something.
If you forget someone’s name, it’s okay to let them know you’ve forgotten and ask again. Focus on things you can do to help maintain your memory.
Maintaining a positive attitude can significantly benefit your cognitive wellbeing.
Dementia
Dementia is a group of diseases that affect your thinking, memory and behaviour, and the ability to do daily activities.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. Anyone can get dementia, but it’s more common after the age of 65.
It may be hard to notice early signs of dementia. Common symptoms include:
- memory loss
- misplacing things
- confusion about time or place
- trouble understanding surroundings, objects or people.
Read more about dementia and how to reduce your risk.
Dementia checks
If you’re worried about changes in your abilities, see your doctor as early as possible. They will ask about your medical history and symptoms, and do more tests if needed.
They may refer you to a geriatrician, neurologist or memory clinic for a formal assessment.
It’s normal to feel anxious about having an assessment. But finding the cause early means you can get support sooner.
Learn more about diagnosing dementia on the Dementia Australia website.
Managing anxiety about dementia
It’s normal to worry about dementia and memory loss as you age. But memory changes might not be caused by dementia. And just because a family member has dementia, it doesn’t mean you will get it.
If you’re concerned that you or a loved one may have early signs of dementia, see your doctor. They will connect you to the right specialists and support services.
Learn about the difference between brain fog and early onset dementia.
What you can do to reduce the risk of dementia
Research shows that doing different types of activities helps to reduce the risk of dementia. For example, you can:
- stay in touch with friends and family
- volunteer
- do physical activities
- stay mentally active by reading books or doing puzzles, crosswords and crafts.
It’s also important to be physically healthy. For example, you can:
- eat a balanced diet
- maintain a healthy weight
- avoid or stop drinking alcohol
- quit smoking
- have regular hearing and vision checks.
Review process
Our review process
This information has been reviewed by clinical experts and is based on the latest evidence.
Our content review process ensures our health information is accurate, trustworthy, current and useful.
We regularly check our information to make sure it reflects the latest clinical guidelines and key findings from large, reliable studies.
Where possible, we focus on Australian research to make our information more relevant locally.
Experts play a key role in reviewing our content. Clinicians at Jean Hailes check information for accuracy and real‑world relevance. These include GPs, gynaecologists, endocrinologists, psychologists and allied health professionals.
We also work with partner organisations, independent specialists and people with lived experience to make sure our content reflects both expert knowledge and the experiences of the community.
