Is this just normal aging?

I think whilst dementia might be a possibility, it sounds like signs of loneliness and spending too much time alone. A friend of my parents lived on his own after splitting with his partner and did this same thing in his early 60s - went very rigid with routine, did the monologue thing, odd phrases and singing. It was really concerning for a while. He actually got a dog (which he adores) and this eased a lot of it. It made him get out of the house at least once a day for a walk, he met a few people as well which helped his loneliness, and it gave him something else to think about other than himself which got his mind and memory back up to speed.
I'd get an assessment for dementia etc, but if it's inconclusive it's worth looking at whether she's just spending too much time alone.

Do you have POA ?

Absolutely not normal. DH is 73 and behaves exactly as he always has, albeit a bit less tolerant.
I agree it's crucial to get power of attorney in place before it's too late.
We did this for my DM after dad died. She was happy to agree on the grounds that it may never be used unless she became ill. She never did lose capacity and died at age 86.
I would make an appointment with her GP. They won't discuss her medical history with you but you can put your concerns to them and ask if they would see her.

My mum is around the same age and that doesn’t sound normal.

i have noticed increased monologues from both parents. My mum forgets the odd word and is less inhibited than she used to be (likes to be the centre of attention which is embarrassing).

bit no behaviours as extreme as you have described

I thick you need to get her checked for dementia doesnt sound quite right my mum has alzheimer's and vascular dementia

Sorry no that doesn’t seem normal.
My mum started behaving very strangely. Including inappropriate behaviour, such as laughing at thing that weren’t funny. It was dementia. I’m sorry if it is.

Have you actually tried talking to her about it? I know you say she doesn't listen to you etc but maybe attempt a conversation in which you lay out your concerns and ask how she was feeling in herself and if she had noticed any changes within herself

Yes, she might bite your head off but you owe it to her and yourself to try one conversation where you highlight your worries

My mum's behaviour was similar but she was a good 10 years older before when I became alarmed by her. She was someone who had always hated silence so would often sing to herself when there was a silence in the room so that didn't worry me so much as irritate me. Likewise forgetting the odd word or name in a conversation. I thought she had become lazy when it came to tech - preferring one of her grandaughters to do things for her. I spent so much time with her in the last few years, especially with the pandemic, I generally knew what she was talking about and would fill in the gaps. It was only after she went into hospital last year that I realised her behaviours were irrational and a symptom of dementia. Everything else I had put down to physical causes - poor eyesight, poor hearing, reduced mobility. It was both a shock and a relief when medical staff started talking about dementia.

But as I said, she was ten years older than your mum.

So sorry OP, this sounds so tough for you. Could you book a telephone call with the GP on your Mum's behalf? Xxx

No this doesn't seem right. My mum is 74 and although forgets things sometimes there is nothing else. There seems to be a lot more going on there with your mum. Have you asked your mum in a sensitive way how she is doing and if she feels OK?.

It doesn't sound normal. Dementia can often magnify peoples worst behaviours.
Write to the GP. Explain your concerns and ask them to invite her in for a 'health check'. They can screen for a range of possible issues which may be causing these issues, vitamin deficiencies etc, and do a memory assessment. Agreement for referral to the memory clinic may be another matter!
POA is key. It can be applied for online. DH and I did ours during lockdown and the wait was nine months so that's a priority.
Would it be worth casually introducing for example, a cleaner or Gardner, so she has someone external involved which can be extended to carers etc as time goes on? You won't be able to do this by yourself.

Sadly though my Nan was 90... your poor mum is 16 years younger. It's really unfair.

My Nans diagnosis in the end was vascular dementia with psychosis (the psychosis was the awful bit that got her sectioned as a danger to herself and others... at 91).

It was being unable to use technology that she'd previously been good with that were the signs of dementia.

The psychosis was the paranoia, delusions & hallucinations she had.

Personality change can also be a first sign of dementia & people can try to mask the fact they are struggling.

There are many types of dementia- a diagnosis helps as there are memory clinics, & medications which can help.

No not normal I feel. She should be enjoying her golden years. There is some thing not quite right

No not normal, you need to do what I did when my Nan became mentally unwell: phone her gp, explain the situation and that you feel she needs a visit from the doctor on some pretext.
It took several phone calls over several months before Nans doctor listened to me, I think the pretext for the doctors visit was that she needed some thyroid blood tests? Anyway she let him visit and he understood the issues straight away.

If you speak to her GP about your concerns they may do a house call. I wrote to my DM’s GP with my concerns and as they have a ‘duty of care’ they fitted in a home visit to check up on her. If she’s losing capacity, before it’s diagnosed please try and get her to agree to a lasting power of attorney (LPA) as it will save you a world of pain. Once she has been deemed to have lost capacity she can’t sign one and you are basically stuffed.

No - not normal. Dsis is 73 and nothing like that. Neither were my parents at that age.
You're right to be concerned

It sounds not normal to me. Could be a few different things (UTI, depression, dementia spring to mind). Definitely need a doctor

I work with elderly people and no, this does not sound normal. I'd say you're right to be concerned, but I'm not sure what can be done unless you can persuade her to see her GP.

Think it's the combination of issues that is worrying. 1 by itself could just be a personality quirk becoming more pronounced but this is more than that.
Would she go to the GP with you?

No, sorry not normal. Have you asked her how she is feeling? Some people realise they are changing and find it a relief to talk about it.