Many Pakistani families notice it gradually. An older parent starts repeating the same question at the dinner table, forgets a grandchild’s name, or gets confused about whether they have taken their morning dawa. It feels uncomfortable to name it, and in many households it gets quietly dismissed as just getting old.<\/p>\n
But not all forgetfulness in old age is the same. Some of it is a normal slowing of recall that comes with aging. Some of it is a sign of something treatable, like a vitamin deficiency or an underactive thyroid<\/a>. And some of it is early dementia, a condition where early action genuinely matters. Knowing the difference can change outcomes for your family member.<\/p>\n According to neurologists at Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, an estimated 8 to 10 percent of Pakistanis aged above 65 years suffer from chronic memory loss. A published review in the Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association (2024) noted that Pakistan’s rising elderly population makes this a growing concern that the healthcare system is only beginning to address.<\/p>\n