Is age-associated memory impairment & cognitive decline the same as dementia?

Although people with both AAMCD and dementia may struggle with memory and executive function, people with dementia experience a significant negative impact on their daily functioning, whereas people with AAMCD do not.

People with AAMCD may experience momentary lapses in memory, such as misplacing car keys, or reduced processing speed, such as taking a bit longer to perform basic math calculations. However, these deficiencies do not affect their day-to-day functioning, and the impairments are self-perceived.^[1][2]

People with dementia experience more severe symptoms, such as getting lost in a familiar place or having trouble performing activities of daily living (e.g., bathing and paying bills).

Specific diagnostic criteria for dementia (referred to as Major Neurocognitive Disorder) have also been established by the American Psychiatric Association. These criteria, as specified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V), are:

• A significant cognitive decline from a previous measure of cognitive performance in one or more cognitive domains (e.g., executive function, language, memory).

• An impairment in the ability to function independently in daily life.

• The cognitive deficits are not caused by delirium, and another mental disorder (e.g., depression, schizophrenia) cannot provide a better explanation for the symptoms.