Everybody occasionally forgets things. In actuality, forgetting can become a regular occurrence as we age. After all, if you’ve lived an extended period, your brain is likely crammed with much knowledge. It seems that occasionally you need help remembering this fact or that talk. Seniors and those close to them start to worry. Nevertheless, when amnesia occurs more frequently: is it “something more?”
Am I Forgetful? Or is it Something More?
Memory lapses in older persons can result from a wide range of factors. Illness, infections, sadness, and certain drugs can impact cognitive function. Whatever the cause, it’s critical to recognize the early warning signals of “something more” so that treatment may be started as soon as feasible. Here are a few early indicators that you or someone you love may be going through “something more.”
- Memory loss: Memory loss that interferes with daily living is one of the most typical early indications of dementia. This includes forgetting a recent discussion, overlooking essential dates and events, or repeatedly asking about the same topic. Relying on memory aides or other family members to do things that they used to be able to complete on their own is another sign of severe memory loss.
- Problem-solving challenges: Planning and problem-solving are other signs of early memory loss. Some people may find it increasingly challenging to manage their monthly expenditures, need help focusing, or find complicated activities too perplexing and challenging. It would be typical, age-related memory changes to occasionally fail to pay a payment or make a mistake when balancing a checkbook.
- Difficulties in completing tasks: Making a cherished family dish, remembering the rules of a game they frequently play, or even traveling to a familiar area might be challenging for those with early memory loss. Regular, age-related memory loss occasionally leads to forgetting how to use the DVR or the microwave’s settings.
- Confusing places and times: We have occasionally forgotten the day or the precise date; this is a sign of normal forgetfulness. Driving to a well-known location while “zoning out” while doing so is comparable to forgetting exactly how you got there. Losing track of the season or even the year might indicate that “something more” is going on. The inability to recall one’s whereabouts or how they got there may indicate “something more.”
- Difficulty seeing: It is a reality that as we age, our eyesight deteriorates. It’s a typical age-related alteration when these changes are brought on by eye conditions like cataracts or macular degeneration (which should be evaluated and treated). Vision issues, such as trouble with depth perception, spatial connections, and visual representations, might be early indicators of dementia. If a loved one is having trouble determining distance or with color or contrast, it might be a symptom of “something more.”
If You Have Memory-Related Issues, Let Capital Women’s Care Rockville Help!
Because they fear hearing the dreaded words, it’s dementia, many seniors and those they care about often hesitate to discuss forgetfulness and other memory problems with a doctor. Call Capital Women’s Care Rockville at (301) 762-5501 to schedule an appointment; nevertheless, if you believe your memory loss may be something more.
