So, everyone should learn to distinguish between the two, especially since dementia has strict diagnostic criteria and cannot be diagnosed solely based on forgetfulness.
Diagnostic criteria for dementia: It must be acquired after birth; the duration of intellectual impairment must be at least four months, not transient; there must be clear consciousness; at least three of the following abilities must decline: language, emotions, memory, spatial skills, cognition (such as summarizing, calculating, judging); and it must impact daily life before being preliminarily diagnosed as dementia.
It can be seen that it's not easy to be diagnosed with dementia, as there are "thresholds" to meet. Therefore, if suspicious symptoms appear, it is advisable to promptly seek medical diagnosis.
