Age related memory impairment

How to prevent memory loss with age? Is memory loss a normal part of aging? What is the difference between dementia and memory loss?

Age-related memory loss 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.

You might misplace your glasses sometimes. Or maybe you need to make lists more often than in the past to remember appointments or tasks. The ability to encode new memories of events or facts and working memory shows decline in both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. The line between age-related memory loss and dementia might seem thin, but there are a number of signs and symptoms that can help you tell one from the other. Understanding what makes dementia different from age-related memory loss is crucial when caring for your parent.

It also affects the practical side of life. Forgetting how to get from your house to the grocery store, how to do everyday tasks, or how you are connected to family members, friends, and other people can mean losing your ability to live independently.

According to the National Institute on Aging, it’s perfectly natural to experience age-related memory loss. Forgetfulness can be a normal part of aging. As people get older , changes occur in all parts of the body, including the brain,” they advise.

It is estimated that about percent of people over the age of experience some form of memory loss not due to any underlying condition. This is called “ age-associated memory impairment ,” and it’s considered a normal part of aging. Age related memory impairment is considered as a risk factor for age related dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Of course, it’s also possible that your parent is experiencing memory problems from something entirely different from dementia or age - related memory loss. Share this infographic and help spread the word about what memory problems are normal and not.

Other causes for memory problems can include aging, medical conditions, emotional problems, mild cognitive impairment , or another type of dementia. Memory loss, though common, is not the only sign. A person may also have problems with language skills, visual perception, or paying attention. Some people have personality changes. Dementia is not a normal part of aging.

There are different forms of dementia. The primary difference between age-related memory loss and dementia is that the former isn’t disabling. The memory lapses have little impact on your daily performance and ability to do what you want to do.

A: At age 6 the likelihood of severe memory loss, or dementia, is in 100. The risk factors for dementia include advancing age , a family history of dementia, cardiovascular disease, smoking, heavy drinking, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Although the exact prevalence is uncertain, most agree that memory decline occurs in more than of individuals older than years.

Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center examined the brains of people of varying ages, who had passed away with no indication of neurologic disease. However, normal memory loss due to age should not result in any loss of function. Schedule an appointment with your doctor.

The Memory Quiz Was Developed By Dr Gary Small of the UCLA Longevity Center.