Forgetfulness or Something More? When to Be Concerned
Everyone’s brain gets a bit dim with age; it’s part of the normal aging process. However, forgetfulness can also be a sign that something more serious is at play, such as dementia, hypothyroidism, medication interactions, brain tumor, trauma or another disease. If an illness is to blame, quick intervention is vital. Therefore, it’s important to recognize the difference between normal forgetfulness and the symptoms of something much more serious.
Normal Age-Related Forgetfulness
The brain changes with age. Blood flow decreases, hormones decline and the region of the brain responsible for memory deteriorates. All of this is normal and results in normal age-related forgetfulness. According to HelpGuide.org, occasional memory lapses are normal. Following are a few examples of normal lapses:
- Misplacing keys
- Forgetting names
- Forgetting the reason for entering a room
- Being easily distracted
- Not being able to quickly retrieve information (the name of a show, artist or street)
These types of memory lapses are generally not serious. What’s more, they can even be reversible. A healthy diet, sleep schedule and exercise regimen, paired with regular memory exercises, can do a world of good at tackling minor memory issues. But what does the more serious version look like?
Signs It Could be Something More
Not all memory lapses are benign. When forgetfulness becomes bothersome or interferes with daily life, there may be a good reason to worry. Following are a few memory lapses that are NOT part of the natural aging process:
- Asking the same questions over and over
- Forgetting common words, such as “fork”
- Mixing up words without realizing it
- Placing items in inappropriate places, keys in the refrigerator, for example
- Getting lost in a familiar area
- Mood changes
These types of memory changes can be indicative of a host of illnesses and disorders, some of which are reversible. This is especially true if you seek treatment early.
Getting Help for Memory Issues
Make an appointment with a doctor at the first sign of serious memory loss. Since there are many causes of memory loss, it’s important for a doctor to uncover the cause and treat it accordingly.
First, follow the doctor’s instructions and then think about taking additional steps to improve memory. This is a supplement to medical treatment not in place of it, but according to the National Institute on Aging, learning a new skill, spending time with friends and family, getting active and using memory tools can help alleviate your symptoms. Other sources list board games and puzzle games as a great way to delay the onset of memory challenges, so consider play a great place to start as well.
Knowing the difference between common aging memory loss and the more serious types of issues is key, and seeking help early is, above all, the best course of action. In most cases, early intervention plays a vital role in determining how and if the memory loss can be treated, so visiting a doctor is, at the slightest worry of these problems, the very first imperative step to take.
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