CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook joins "CBS Mornings" to explain how to recognize the difference between normal aging and signs that may point to a more serious cognitive issue — and what to do if you're concerned.

CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook discussed the differences between normal aging and early signs of cognitive decline. He explained that while occasional forgetfulness, such as misplacing keys, is common, more serious signs include not remembering the purpose of familiar objects or experiencing changes in mood and executive function.

Dr. LaPook emphasised the importance of involving family, friends, and clinicians in recognising these changes, as well as the value of cognitive testing in certain professions. He also highlighted steps to maintain brain health, such as managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes, and engaging in activities that stimulate the brain.

How to spot the early signs of cognitive decline

Speaking of burritos, let's talk about being healthy. In today's Health Watch, age played a huge role, of course, in the last election, but it's something that we all have to face. If you're lucky, right? The older you get, maybe you feel yourself slowing down a little bit, or you see a loved one becoming more forgetful than usual. But when does normal aging turn into something you should be concerned about? Here to break it all down is CBS News Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. John LePoucq. Dr. LePoucq, thank you for being here. How are you? So, a lot of people don't even like talking about this, right? There's a whole stigma surrounding aging. Yeah, I think that's the theme for today. We talk about dementia so many times, but the theme for today is, people say, like, how do I know if I'm really losing it? I was in makeup and I said to everybody, just a little survey here, what's your biggest fear as you get older? Immediately, losing my mind. So, it's one thing we say, you know, with kind of tongue-in-cheek, it's one thing if you can't find your car keys, it's another thing if you find them and you don't know what they do. So, that's the difference between sort of just, I forgot where something is or why I walked into a room and, like, I'm not thinking well, executive function. And remember that dementia is a big category. There are lots of things that can cause dementia. It's not just Alzheimer's, although Alzheimer's is the most common. There is low B12. There is low thyroid. There is frontotemporal. There's Parkinson's. What are those things? There are different conditions that have dementia as a part of it and also vascular dementia. So, when you think about, well, what can I do about it, which is really what everybody wants to know, right, is first you have to make the diagnosis. And that involves not only the patient, you know, and then a good relationship with the physician, right, or the physician who really knows them or a clinician who knows them, but also the family and friends. Right now, there's such a stigma that people, well, I don't want to really say something. And the early signs can be, you know, having mood changes, of course, memory changes, missing appointments, things like that that may be subtle. And this interesting literature that the more educated you are and the more intelligent you are, the more you can kind of hide it for a while. But then when you finally get symptoms, you can kind of fall off a cliff. So, let's talk about cognitive tests for a second. You've got a clip from a Sunday morning interview with a doctor who thinks they're a good idea for certain jobs. Let's take a look at that real quick. Dr. Katlik, 72, says tests like these actually help fight ageism by focusing on function rather than on chronological age. I think you can make a very strong case for anybody who's in a high-impact profession. Doctors, airline pilots, high government officials, they should have some sort of screening at some age. In fact, I would take away the mandatory retirement for airline pilots and others. If you're okay, the test will show you're okay. What do you think about that? I think it's a great idea. I went down to Baltimore. That's Dr. Mark Katlik, who's a thoracic surgeon. He said, look, in my hospital, when surgeons reach 75, they have to do neurocognitive testing. And people come from all over the country. He said they come kicking and screaming. But most of them pass it. But, you know, I saw what they do. They do sort of these neurological tests and these physical tests. But, Dr. Pook, in the home, what can people do if they're seeing signs and they want to approach the person in a positive way? So, that involves empathy, I believe, right? And understanding that this is the most threatening thing you can say to somebody. So, they may recoil from it. I think it's a good idea to not only talk to the, you know, whoever the person is, you know, gently. Do you think, I'm wondering, have you noticed? But the physician needs to do that, too. And the family members should not hesitate to contact the clinician. That's okay to do. That's not a HIPAA violation. It's a HIPAA violation the other way around if the doctor or clinician, without permission, contacts. But they can get input. And then there's stuff to do. For example, a lot of dementia is vascular. So, control your blood pressure. Make sure that your lipids are right, your cholesterol is right. Make sure, if you have diabetes, that it's under control. If you're obese, lose weight. That'll help the brain? These are all things. What's good for the heart is good for the head. We don't have any time left, but one-word answer. Do crosswords help? Yes. Okay, great. Anything that gets your brain going. Crosswords are torture and I will never do that. Unless it's so frustrating. You must be so good at crossword puzzles. I will never do a crossword puzzle ever in my life. Dr. LeFouque, thank you. Are you saying they make you cross? They make me very cross. He's a witty man. The brain is working. I appreciate it, doctor.

Russia pummeled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, injuring at least 23 people and damaging buildings across the capital only hours after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russia's Vladimir Putin, officials said.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Russia hits Kyiv with largest drone attack after Trump-Putin call

U.S. President Donald Trump marked the passage of the new spending bill, which includes changes to food assistance, student loan programs, and clean energy credits. Robert Costa joins "CBS Mornings" to break down what's in the legislation.

Washington

Trump set to sign "big, beautiful bill"

More than 80 Palestinians were killed in Gaza on Thursday (July 3), according to health officials, as Israel intensified its strikes, hitting a school-turned-displacement facility. CNN’s Paula Hancocks looks at the damage and humanitarian toll.

Jerusalem

More than 80 people killed in Gaza in one day

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv will do "anything" to advance EU accession talks. Zelenskyy spoke alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Ukraine will do 'anything' to advance EU accession talks: Zelenskyy

President Donald Trump said Washington will start sending letters to countries on Friday specifying what tariff rates they will face on imports to the United States, a clear shift from earlier pledges to strike scores of individual deals.

Global Tariffs

Trump: Letters telling countries their tariff rate going out Friday

Indonesian rescuers on Thursday (July 3) temporarily halted a search for 30 people still missing after a ferry carrying 65 people sank near the island of Bali with the loss of six lives, the national search and rescue agency said.

Gilimanuk

Indonesia suspends search for 30 missing after ferry sinks near Bali

After marathon debate sessions in the Senate and House, President Donald Trump’s budget bill passed in the House. Republicans secured the biggest win of Trump’s presidency.

Trump’s landmark ‘big, beautiful bill’ narrowly passes U.S. House

Florida says the first group of migrant detainees have arrived at the new immigration detention center known as "Alligator Alcatraz." CBS News correspondent Shanelle Kaul has more.

Ochopee

First group of detainees arrive at "Alligator Alcatraz," Florida says

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday (July 3) that he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that he plans to hold a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. CBS News White House reporter Willie James Inman has more.

Trump speaks with Putin, plans call with Zelenskyy

CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez reports on a lawsuit from lawyers for Kilmar Abrego Garcia alleging he suffered “torture and mistreatment” after he was wrongfully deported and held in El Salvador’s notorious mega prison.

Tecoluca

Kilmar Abrego Garcia claims he was tortured in El Salvadoran prison

The Kremlin welcomed the development, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov claiming it proves Western arsenals are being depleted and predicting that less aid will hasten the end of the conflict.

U.S. pauses military aid to Ukraine over depleted weapons stockpile

Two contractors employed by UG Solutions spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity as they were revealing their employers’ internal operations.

U.S. contractors say live ammo used at Gaza aid distribution site

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries spoke for hours on the House floor about potential impacts of President Trump's "big, beautiful bill" that Republicans are looking to pass before July 4. Following debate, the House is set for a final vote on the massive budget bill.

House debates Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' ahead of final vote

CBS News political contributor Caroline Polisi joins "CBS Mornings" to break down the jury's verdict in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial and the judge's decision to deny bail for the music mogul ahead of his sentencing.

Manhattan

Sean "Diddy" Combs denied bail after split verdict

Liverpool soccer player Diogo Jota has died aged 28, just weeks after marrying his childhood sweetheart. The footballer passed away in a car crash in northern Spain.

Madrid

Liverpool soccer player dies in car crash 10 days after wedding

The Pentagon said that U.S. strikes 10 days ago had degraded Iran's nuclear program by up to two years, suggesting the U.S. military operation likely achieved its goals despite a far more cautious initial assessment that leaked to the public.

Tehran

Iran Strikes

Iran nuclear program degraded by up to two years: Pentagon

Days before his 90th birthday, the Dalai Lama announced the Gaden Phodrang Trust, a non-profit he founded, will have the sole authority to recognize his future reincarnation, but China insists it will choose the successor of the Tibetan spiritual leader.

Lhasa

China rejects Dalai Lama’s succession plan

The U.S. Congress inched towards approving President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, despite attempts by Democrats to stop it. The bill is Trump’s signature legislation which includes massive spending increases on the military and immigration enforcement while slashing social programs.

Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill nears approval

Sean (Diddy) Combs was found guilty on prostitution-related charges, but was acquitted on more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking giving him a maximum sentence of 20 years. But the courtroom victory was subdued following a judge’s ruling to deny him bail.

New York

Diddy denied bail, avoids life in prison

President Trump says Israel has agreed to a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, but it remains unclear if Hamas will accept the terms. CBS News senior foreign correspondent Debora Patta has more.

Trump says Israel has agreed to Gaza ceasefire conditions

Bryan Kohberger changed his plea to guilty Wednesday for the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students. CBS News national correspondent Carter Evans has more on the case.

Boise

New details revealed as Kohberger pleads guilty for 2022 Idaho murders

The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down a state abortion law that was adopted in 1849 in a 4-3 landmark decision. CBS News' Shanelle Kaul reports.

Madison

Wisconsin Supreme Court strikes down 176-year-old state abortion ban

Macron and Putin held regular discussions around the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with Macron visiting Putin in Russia in February 2022, but dialogue eventually stalled.

Paris

Macron held 'substantial' phone call with Putin

President Trump toured “Alligator Alcatraz,” a migrant detention center he teamed up with Ron DeSantis to build in the Everglades.

Everglades

Protesters gather around ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ as President Trump visits

Jurors in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal criminal trial said they have reached a verdict on four of the five counts, but they cannot reach a verdict on Count 1, which is racketeering conspiracy. The judge has instructed the jury to keep deliberating. Deliberations will resume Wednesday (July 2).

Jury reaches partial verdict in Sean "Diddy" Combs case

The U.S. Senate passed the Republicans' reconciliation bill on Tuesday (July 1) after more than 24 hours of marathon voting on amendments. Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote.

U.S. Senate passes Trump's "big, beautiful bill"

The new order does not rescind existing sanctions on ousted longtime President Bashar al-Assad, his top aides, officials and family members who are accused of having committed war crimes and human rights violations against Syrian civilians.

Trump signs executive order lifting U.S. sanctions on Syria

Former criminology graduate student Bryan Kohberger has agreed to plead guilty to killing four Idaho college students in 2022, a move that would spare him the death penalty under a deal with prosecutors, ABC News reported on Monday (June 30).

Moscow

Suspect in murders of four Idaho college students to plead guilty

Thailand's Constitutional Court on Tuesday suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from duty pending a case seeking her dismissal, adding to mounting pressure on a government fighting for survival on multiple fronts.

Bangkok

Thai court suspends PM from duty pending case seeking her dismissal

Israeli strikes killed at least 60 people across Gaza on June 30 in some of the heaviest attacks in weeks as Israeli officials were due in Washington for a new ceasefire push by U.S. President Donald Trump.