Memory Loss: What’s Normal and What Isn’t?

Most of us have moments or glitches when we have trouble remembering something that just happened, like where we placed our keys when we got home, or the name of someone you met 10 minutes earlier.
In younger people, there could be a host of reasons why these things happen. There are many psychological and physical disorders that affect memory that have nothing to do with aging. Stress, depression, being preoccupied or just downright tired can cause brief memory glitches. Other causes can include low blood sugar, taking medications such as antidepressants and antihistamines or having an over or underactive thyroid.
According to Dr. De Santi in a recent Ladies Home Journal article, “aging does play a role in memory loss much in the same way you may not run as fast in your 40s as you did in your 20s.” “And while you lose neutrons as you age, your brain makes new ones. There’s a big difference between normal slowing down and serious cognitive impairment,” Dr. De Santi says.
How can you tell if your memory problems are serious?
A memory problem is serious when it affects your daily living. If you sometimes forget names, you're probably okay.

Problems that aren't part of normal aging
• Forgetting things much more often than you used to
• Forgetting how to do things you've done many times before
• Trouble learning new things
• Repeating phrases or stories in the same conversation
• Trouble making choices or handling money
• Not being able to keep track of what happens each day
• Trouble doing things that requires steps (such as following a recipe)

Another difference between normal memory problems and dementia is that normal memory loss doesn't get much worse over time. Dementia gets much worse over several months to several years.

It may be hard to figure out on your own if you have a serious problem. Talk to your family doctor about any concerns you have. If your memory problems are caused by a certain medicine you're taking, your doctor can prescribe another medicine that doesn't have the side effect. If another condition is causing your memory loss (such as depression), your doctor can help you treat that condition.

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