Occasional forgetfulness and slower recall are a normal part of ageing. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a decline in memory or thinking that is greater than expected for age but doesn’t stop someone managing daily life. Dementia is when the decline is significant enough to interfere with independence. If changes are new, getting worse, or worrying family members, see your GP first and consider a cognitive or neuropsychological assessment.
Normal ageing vs MCI vs dementia
| Normal ageing | Mild cognitive impairment | Dementia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memory | Occasionally forgets names or where keys are, then remembers | Forgets recent conversations or events more often than peers | Frequently forgets recent events; repeats questions; may not recall later |
| Everyday life | Fully independent | Largely independent; may need more effort or reminders | Needs help with complex tasks such as finances, medications or driving |
| Awareness | Notices and can compensate | Often aware of changes | May be less aware of changes than family |
| What to do | Healthy lifestyle; stay socially and mentally active | GP review; consider assessment and a baseline | GP review; diagnostic assessment; planning and support |
Warning signs worth checking
- Repeating questions, or forgetting recent conversations and appointments
- Getting lost in familiar places
- Difficulty managing money, bills or medications
- Struggling to find words or follow conversations
- Changes in personality, judgement, motivation or behaviour
- Withdrawal from hobbies or social activities
Rule out treatable causes first
Memory and thinking can be affected by many things other than dementia — including depression and anxiety, poor sleep (including sleep apnoea), medication side effects, thyroid problems, vitamin B12 deficiency, hearing or vision loss, infection and delirium. A GP review, blood tests and sometimes brain imaging help identify these.
Memory assessment pathways in South Australia
- See your GP. They’ll take a history, do brief cognitive screening and order tests.
- Public memory and geriatric clinics. Your GP can refer to a public clinic — the Central Adelaide Local Health Network runs geriatric and memory services, including a fortnightly country health clinic at Mount Barker hospital.
- Private neuropsychological assessment. A detailed assessment of thinking skills to clarify MCI versus dementia, the likely cause, and practical recommendations — often used alongside medical specialists.
- Support and planning. The National Dementia Helpline (1800 100 500, free, 24/7) and My Aged Care can help with information, support services and aged care access.
What happens in a memory assessment?
A neuropsychological memory assessment typically includes an interview with the person and a family member, standardised testing of memory, attention, language, visual-spatial and executive skills, and questionnaires about mood and daily functioning. The results are compared with people of a similar age and education, and integrated with medical information. You’ll receive a report and a feedback session explaining what the results mean and what to do next. More about our memory and dementia assessments.
Can you reduce your risk?
Yes, to a meaningful degree. The 2024 Lancet Commission on dementia identified 14 modifiable risk factors across the lifespan — including physical inactivity, high blood pressure, hearing and vision loss, smoking, diabetes, depression, social isolation, excess alcohol and high LDL cholesterol — and estimated that nearly half of dementia cases could, in theory, be prevented or delayed by addressing them. A good starting point is the free online CogDRisk tool from UNSW.
Talking to a family member about memory
- Choose a calm, private time and lead with care rather than examples of mistakes
- Frame an appointment as a general health or “brain health” check
- Offer to go with them, and let the GP know your observations beforehand
- Remember that early assessment means more time to plan, treat what’s treatable and put supports in place
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free dementia test online?
Online quizzes can’t diagnose dementia. Free tools such as CogDRisk estimate your risk based on lifestyle and health factors, which is useful for prevention — but if you’re worried about memory changes, see your GP.
How do I get a dementia assessment for my parent?
Start with a GP appointment — go along if your parent agrees, and bring examples of the changes you’ve noticed. The GP can check for treatable causes and refer to a geriatrician, a public memory clinic, or a private neuropsychological assessment. If your parent is reluctant, framing it as a general “brain health check” can help.
Can memory problems be reversed?
Sometimes. Memory and thinking can be affected by treatable factors such as low mood, sleep problems, medication side effects, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems, hearing loss or infection. That’s why a medical review is an important first step.
Sources
- Dementia Australia — National Dementia Helpline
- Royal Adelaide Hospital (CALHN) — Geriatric services
- UNSW — CogDRisk dementia risk assessment
- Livingston G et al. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission
- My Aged Care
This guide is general information only and isn’t a substitute for individual advice. Funding rules and rebates change — figures are current as at 2 October 2026.