How to know when to take memory issues seriously

WORRYING SIGNS: Seek help if you feel you are getting more forgetful

- BY CAMILLA FOSTER

We can all forget things from time to time, for example where we left our keys, someone's name or why we walked into a room.

But when does forgetfulness cross the line from normal ageing or distraction into something more concerning?

How can someone differentiate between forgetfulness and signs of cognitive decline or dementia?

"It's important to understand that some degree of forgetfulness is common - occasionally forgetting a person's name or misplacing items isn't typically cause for alarm," says Dr Henk Swanepoel, lead neuropsychologist at Cygnet Health Care.

However, memory problems should be taken more seriously when they start to affect a person's ability to function day-to-day.