A small public act for cognitive awareness
What most of us already keep an eye on
A parent
repeats a story they told you yesterday.
A friend
loses the thread halfway through a familiar conversation.
You
reach for a word you have used a thousand times.
Add your voice to make noticing feel normal.
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General information, not medical advice. Last reviewed .
Notice Earlier is a public awareness campaign. It asks people to agree with one idea: memory and thinking deserve the same everyday attention we already give to blood pressure, cholesterol and daily steps.
It is not a medical service. It does not test, screen or diagnose anyone, and it does not collect names or contact details.
Yes. Mild forgetfulness is common as people get older. Taking longer to learn something new, or occasionally misplacing glasses or keys, is usually a sign of ordinary forgetfulness rather than a serious memory problem.
Dementia, however, is not a normal part of aging.
Source: National Institute on Aging: Memory Problems, Forgetfulness, and Aging (opens in a new tab)
The key difference is whether changes get in the way of daily life. Signs worth raising with a doctor include asking the same questions over and over, getting lost in places you know well, having trouble following directions or instructions, and struggling with everyday tasks such as driving, shopping or using the phone.
Often a family member or friend notices these changes before the person does.
Source: National Institute on Aging: Memory Problems, Forgetfulness, and Aging (opens in a new tab)
Yes. Memory problems can come from side effects of medicines, a lack of vitamin B12, thyroid, kidney or liver problems, heavy alcohol use, or infections. Depression, stress and anxiety can also cause forgetfulness that is mistaken for dementia.
This is one of the best reasons to notice changes early: some causes can be treated once they are found.
Source: National Institute on Aging: Memory Problems, Forgetfulness, and Aging (opens in a new tab)
In a CDC survey from 2015–2016, about 1 in 9 adults aged 45 and older (11.2%) said their confusion or memory loss had been happening more often or getting worse over the past year.
Fewer than half of them (45.4%) had talked about it with a health care professional.
Start by talking with a doctor. Before the visit, write down what you have noticed, when it started and whether it is getting worse, and make a list of all medicines and supplements. It can help to bring a family member or friend along.
A doctor can check whether the changes are typical for age and look for causes that can be treated.
If confusion comes on suddenly, or comes with trouble speaking, weakness on one side, or a severe headache, call emergency services right away. These can be signs of a stroke.
Source: National Institute on Aging: Memory Problems, Forgetfulness, and Aging (opens in a new tab); CDC: Signs and Symptoms of Stroke (opens in a new tab)
Yes. Tapping “I agree” adds one to a public count. It does not ask for your name, email or phone number, and the site does not use analytics or advertising trackers.
Your place in line is remembered only on your own device, so you can share it later. A Cloudflare check runs in the background to keep automated bots out of the count.