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What to do and how to solve the problem of memory impairment with age
We all sometimes lose keys, forget someone’s name or phone number. When we are young, we are not inclined to pay much attention to these mistakes, but when we get older, sometimes we start to worry about what they mean. While it is also true that certain changes in the brain are unavoidable when it comes to aging, serious memory problems are not one of them.
This is why it is important to know the difference between normal age-related forgetfulness and symptoms that may indicate a developing cognitive problem. Helpguide editorial staff told in more detail what to do and how to solve the problem of memory degradation with age.
Material content
Memory and aging
Memory loss is not an inevitable part of the aging process.
Normal forgetfulness versus dementia
Does memory loss affect your life?
Symptoms of mild cognitive impairment
When to see a doctor?
What to expect when visiting a doctor?
Reversible Causes of Memory Loss
1. Depression
2. Vitamin B12 deficiency
3. Thyroid problems
4. Alcohol abuse
5. Dehydration
6. Side effects of drugs
Memory and aging
Forgetfulness is a common complaint among many of us when we get older. You start talking about a recently watched movie when you realize that you cannot remember the name.
Memory lapses can be unpleasant, but most of the time they are not disturbing. Age-related changes in memory are not the same as dementia.
As we get older, we experience physiological changes that can cause brain malfunctions, which we always took for granted. It will take more time to learn and remember information. We are not as fast as before. In fact, we often take this slowdown in our mental processes for true memory loss. But in most cases, if we give ourselves time, information will come to mind.
Memory loss is not an inevitable part of the aging process.
The brain is capable of producing new brain cells at any age, so significant memory loss is not an inevitable result of aging. Your lifestyle, habits and daily activities have a huge impact on the health of your brain. Regardless of your age, there are many ways to improve your cognitive skills, prevent memory loss, and protect your gray matter.
In addition, normal aging does not significantly affect many mental abilities, such as:
Your ability to do what you always did and continue to do often.
The wisdom and knowledge that you have gained from life experience.
Your inborn common sense and your ability to form reasonable arguments and judgments.
3 reasons for age-related memory loss:
The hippocampus, the region of the brain involved in the formation and restoration of memories, often worsens with age.
Hormones and proteins that protect and restore brain cells and stimulate the growth of the nervous system also decrease with age.
Elderly people often experience a decrease in blood flow to the brain, which can impair memory and lead to changes in cognitive skills.
Normal forgetfulness versus dementia
For most people, occasional memory lapses are a normal part of the aging process, rather than a warning sign of a serious mental decline or dementia. The following types of memory failures are normal for older adults and are generally not considered warning signs of dementia:
Sometimes forget where you left things that you regularly use, such as glasses or keys.
Forget the names of acquaintances or block one memory with a similar association, for example, call your grandson the name of your son.
From time to time forget about the meeting or enter the room to forget why you entered.
Being easily distracted or having trouble remembering what you just read or the details of the conversation.
Inability to express the information that you have "spinning at the tip of the tongue."
Does memory loss affect your life?
The main difference between age-related memory loss and dementia is that the former does not interfere too much. Lack of memory has little effect on your daily performance and ability to do what you want to do. Dementia, on the other hand, is characterized by a constant, impeding reduction of two or more intellectual abilities, such as memory, language, judgment, and abstract thinking.
When memory loss becomes so common and serious, it disrupts your work, hobbies, social activities and family relationships. You may experience warning signs of Alzheimer's disease or other dementia-causing disorder, or a condition that mimics dementia.
Symptoms of mild cognitive impairment
Mild cognitive impairment is an intermediate stage between normal age-related cognitive changes and more serious symptoms that indicate dementia. It may include problems with memory, language, thinking, and judgment, which are larger than normal age-related changes, but the line between cognitive deficiency and problems with normal memory is not always clear.
The difference is often one of the faces that are difficult to identify. For example, with age, you have problems remembering people's names. However, it’s not normal to forget the names of your close family and friends.
If you have mild cognitive impairment, you, your family, or close friends are likely to know about impaired memory or mental function. But, unlike people with full-blown dementia, you can still live a normal life without relying on others.
Although many people with cognitive impairment eventually develop Alzheimer's disease or another type of dementia, this does not mean that this is inevitable. Some people are in a relatively mild phase of memory impairment, while others are even returning to normal. The course is difficult to predict, but in general, the greater the degree of memory impairment, the higher the risk of developing dementia in the future.
Symptoms of cognitive deficiency include:
Often things are lost.
Often forgotten conversations, as well as meetings or events.
It is difficult to remember the names of new acquaintances.
Difficulties after a conversation.
When to see a doctor?
It's time to see a doctor when memory gaps become frequent enough or noticeable enough to bother you or a family member. If you have reached this point, make an appointment as soon as possible to speak with your doctor and undergo a thorough medical examination. Even if you do not have all the necessary symptoms for dementia, now is the time to take steps to prevent a small problem from becoming a serious one.
Your doctor can evaluate your personal risk factors, evaluate your symptoms, address the reversible causes of memory loss, and help you get help. Early diagnosis can treat reversible causes of memory loss, reduce the decline in vascular dementia, or improve the quality of life in Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia.
What to expect when visiting a doctor?
The doctor will ask you many questions about your memory, including:
how long you or others have noticed a problem with your memory;
what things were hard to remember;
whether the difficulty arose gradually or suddenly;
Do you have a problem with normal activities?
Your doctor will also want to find out what medicines you are taking, how you ate and slept, whether you have had recent depression or stress, and other questions about what has happened in your life. Most likely, your doctor will also ask you or your partner to track your symptoms and check them after a few months. If your memory problem requires an additional evaluation, your doctor may send you to a neuropsychologist.
Reversible Causes of Memory Loss
It is important to remember that memory loss does not automatically mean that you have dementia. There are many other reasons why you may have cognitive problems, including stress, as well as depression and even vitamin deficiency. That's why it is so important to see a doctor to get an official diagnosis if you have any problems. Sometimes even what looks like significant memory loss can be caused by treatable conditions and reversible external factors, such as:
1. Depression
Depression can mimic signs of memory loss, preventing you from concentrating, staying organized, remembering things, and doing things. So, depression is a common problem in older people, especially if you are less social and active than you were before, or you have recently had a number of important losses, as well as serious changes in life (retirement, serious medical diagnosis, loss of a loved one, relocation).
2. Vitamin B12 deficiency
Vitamin B12 protects neurons and is vital for the healthy functioning of the brain. In fact, a lack of B12 can cause permanent damage to the brain. In older people, the rate of absorption of nutrients is reduced, which can make it difficult to get the B12 needed by your mind and body. If you smoke or drink, you may be at particular risk. If you solve the problem of vitamin B12 deficiency at an early stage, you can reverse the related memory problems. Treatment is available as a monthly injection.
3. Thyroid problems
The thyroid gland controls metabolism: if your metabolism is too fast, you may feel embarrassed, and if it is too slow, you may feel lethargic as well as depressed. Thyroid problems can cause memory problems, such as forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating. Medication can reverse symptoms.
4. Alcohol abuse
Excessive alcohol consumption is toxic to brain cells, and alcohol abuse leads to memory loss. Over time, alcohol abuse can also increase the risk of dementia. Due to the harmful effects of excessive alcohol consumption, experts advise limiting daily consumption to only 1-2 drinks.
5. Dehydration
Older people are especially prone to dehydration. Severe dehydration can cause confusion, drowsiness, memory loss, and other symptoms similar to dementia. It is important to stay hydrated (aim for 6-8 glasses of water per day). Be especially vigilant if you are taking diuretics or laxatives, or suffer from diabetes, as well as high blood sugar or diarrhea.
6. Side effects of drugs
Many prescription and non-prescription drugs or drug combinations can cause cognitive problems and memory loss as a side effect. This is especially common in older people because they absorb drugs more slowly. Common medications that affect memory and brain function include sleeping pills, antihistamines, drugs for treating blood pressure and arthritis, muscle relaxants, anticholinergics for treating urinary incontinence and gastrointestinal discomfort, antidepressants, as well as anti-anxiety and painkillers.
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