As we age, some memory loss is to be expected. However, forgetfulness isn’t a rite of passage for the aging. In fact, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, memory loss that affects daily living can be a symptom of dementia, a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills.
“You may not retain trivial facts, but you shouldn’t be forgetting important information,” says Dr. Paul Mazzeo, board-certified neurologist at Beaufort Memorial. “If your short-term memory is impaired or worsening, that’s a particularly concerning sign.”
Dementia symptoms include:
- Asking the same questions repeatedly
- Diminished ability to follow directions
- Forgetting common words when speaking
- Getting lost in familiar neighborhoods
- Misplacing items in inappropriate places
- Mixing words up, for example, saying “bed” when you mean “table”
- Sudden, unexplained changes in mood or behavior
- Taking longer to complete familiar tasks (e.g., balancing your checkbook)
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Types of Memory Loss
Memory distortion: This occurs when you have a memory of a particular event, but as time goes by its details may become distorted, sometimes to the point where the story you’re telling or recalling is completely different from how it took place.
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI): MCI is a noticeable change in your memory and other thinking abilities that does not affect your everyday life. About 15% to 20% of people over the age of 65 have MCI, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. You notice it yourself or people around you notice it, but it doesn’t affect daily activities, such as your ability to pay your bills, drive or socialize. Unfortunately, research suggests that about one third of people with mild cognitive impairment go on to develop Alzheimer’s disease within five years.
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Forms of Dementia
Alzheimer’s disease: The most common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60% to 80% of all dementia cases.
Vascular dementia: This type is caused by a significant stroke or multiple small strokes and accounts for 5% to 10% of cases.
The remaining cases fall into the following categories:
Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB): Similar to Parkinson’s disease, DLB also leads to memory loss and hallucinations.
Frontemporal lobar degeneration: This term is applied to a few varieties of dementia that tend to affect behaviors and cause language difficulties. It often develops earlier than Alzheimer’s disease (often between ages 45 and 60).
Mixed: A person may have changes in the brain that suggest multiple types of dementia. Researchers now believe this mixed dementia is more common than previously thought, with an estimated 50% of people with dementia showing signs of having multiple types.
Dementia screenings are included in Medicare annual wellness visits for adults over age 65. Need a provider? Find one accepting new patients.