Understanding Memory Issues
You forgot where you left your cell phone and have looked everywhere, finally finding it (of course!) right on the kitchen counter. You feel like kicking yourself because you did the same thing last week. But mostly you worry – is this normal age-related memory loss or the beginning of dementia? Let’s dig into understanding memory issues and how we can get the help needed for yourself or someone you love.
The main difference between age-related memory loss and dementia is the effect the loss has on your daily life. Memory lapses due to aging are not disabling; they have little effect on your ability to function and do what you want to do. Dementia, however, brings on a continuous debilitating decline in at least two intellectual faculties such as judgment, memory, language and abstract thinking. The memory loss brought on by dementia disrupts your work, your social interactions and your family relationships, making day-to-day activities, like following a recipe or finding the post office, difficult.
Normal Age-related Memory Decline. So what is normal memory loss and what is not? Some of the changes seen with advancing age include
- forgetting things and events occasionally
- sometimes having difficulty finding the right words to say
- forgetting an acquaintance’s name from time to time
But with normal aging, a senior still functions independently and still pursues daily activities. He or she may pause to remember directions, but will not get lost in familiar surroundings. Judgment and decision-making abilities stay the same, the ability to learn new skills and operate appliances is unaffected and mood changes are appropriate to current personal events. Most telling of all, being able to remember and describe past events of forgetfulness point to a normal memory loss, not dementia.
Dementia. There are many types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, frontotemporal lobar degeneration, Lewy body and mixed dementias. Dementia is usually diagnosed through MRI, neuropsychological testing and a review of medical history. Although there is no cure, certain medications can manage the symptoms and slow the progress of the disease. Dementia symptoms include
- difficulty performing daily tasks such as dressing, paying bills and other activities
- the inability to recognize family members or close friends
- getting lost or disoriented in familiar surroundings, with an inability to follow directions
- frequently forgetting words, misusing words and having difficulty maintaining a conversation
- showing poor judgment and trouble with decision-making
- behaving in socially inappropriate ways with mood changes that are unpredictable
- unable to recognize or recall memory lapses
Memory loss doesn’t automatically mean you have dementia. In addition to age, there are several other factors which affect your ability to remember. Depression, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems, dehydration and medication side effects may all affect your memory. To keep your memory healthy, have a medical check-up to eliminate potential causes, exercise regularly, manage stress, get plenty of sleep and don’t smoke. Learning new skills such as a new language or musical instrument, reading and doing puzzles will challenge your brain to make new cells that keep your memory going strong.
Contact us for more information on aging and memory loss.