As we age, it’s normal for the brain to experience natural cognitive decline in various areas. University of Washington’s Dr. Barak Gaster identifies three condensed warning signs beyond normal aging: losing short-term memory, such as asking the same question repeatedly within a short timeframe; having difficulty completing complex tasks, like following a recipe; and becoming disoriented in familiar places, such as getting lost on a well-known route. Some conditions that mimic dementia are actually reversible — blood tests can rule out reversible causes of memory issues, like vitamin B12 deficiency, thyroid problems, infections, or liver/kidney issues.