We’ve all misplaced common things like keys, or our wallet, or blanked on a name of someone you just met. When we’re young, we don’t tend to pay too much attentions to these kind of memory challenges.But as we age, sometimes we worry about what they mean. While it’s true that certain brain changes are inevitable when it comes to aging, major memory problems are not one of them. That’s why it’s important to know the difference between normal age-related forgetfulness and the symptoms that may indicate a developing cognitive problem.
Memory Loss Is Not An Inevitable Part Of The Aging Process
Contrary to popular belief that you get ‘duller’ with age, the brain is actually capable of producing new brain cells at any age. Therefore, significant memory loss is ‘not’ an inevitable part of aging. But just as it is with muscle strength, you have to use it or lose it. Your lifestyle, health habits, and daily activities have a huge impact on the health of your brain. Whatever your age, there are many things that can be done to prevent memory loss.
Furthermore, many mental abilities are largely unaffected by normal aging, such as:
Normal Age-related Forgetfulness
Here are some examples of normal memory challenges with older adults that are not typically considered signs of dementia:
- Occasionally forgetting where you left things you use regularly, such as glasses or keys.
- Forgetting names of acquaintances or blocking one memory with a similar one, such as calling a grandson by your son’s name.
- Occasionally forgetting an appointment.
- Having trouble remembering what you’ve just read, or the details of a conversation.
- Walking into a room and forgetting why you entered.
- Becoming easily distracted.
- Not quite being able to retrieve information you have on the tip of your tongue.
Symptoms Of Mild Cognitive Impairment
- Frequently losing or misplacing things
- Frequently forgetting conversations, appointments, or events
- Difficulty remembering the names of new acquaintances
- Difficulty following the flow of a conversation
When to see a doctor for memory loss
It’s time to consult a doctor when memory lapses become frequent enough or sufficiently noticeable to concern you or a family member. If you get to that point, make an appointment as soon as possible to talk with your primary physician and have a thorough physical examination. Even if you’re not displaying all the necessary symptoms to indicate dementia, now may be a good time to take steps to prevent a small problem becoming a larger one.
Your doctor can assess your personal risk factors, evaluate your symptoms, eliminate reversible causes of memory loss, and help you obtain appropriate care. Early diagnosis can treat reversible causes of memory loss, lessen decline in vascular dementia, or improve the quality of life in Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia.