Forgetfulness And Age-Associated Memory Impairment
Forgetfulness It's quite normal to forget things occasionally. And as people grow older, they become more forgetful. Most people have forgotten the name of a person whose face is recognizable, have forgotten to switch the lights off or have turned back to make sure they turned off the stove or locked the door. All of this is a normal part of growing older. You may not even remember when this change began; it just creeps up on you as you age. The question is, how much is too much to forget? Although scientists do not fully know the answer to this question, they have found some important differences between normal memory loss and memory loss that occurs with more serious conditions, such as dementia.
Age-Associated Memory Impairment At the moment, researchers are studying senior citizens who suffer from mild memory loss that is greater than their peers. This condition is known as age-associated memory impairment. It is important to note that memory loss does not always indicate dementia. Research is under way to determine whether those with age-associated memory impairment will eventually develop Alzheimer's disease. Age-associated memory impairment generally affects people who are older than 50. It develops gradually. The most common manifestations are difficulty remembering names, misplacement of objects, difficulty remembering a list of multiple items and problems with tasks that require multiple actions. There also may be difficulty remembering telephone numbers and zip codes. If the individual is distracted in some way, the problem is compounded, making it even harder to remember things — such as what was needed to buy or what the person meant to do. What is the difference between age-associated memory impairment and Alzheimer's disease? Activity | Age-associated memory impairment | Alzheimer's disease | Forgets | Parts of an experience | Whole experience | Remembers later | Often | Rarely | Follows written or spoken instructions | Usually able | Gradually unable | Is able to use notes | Usually able | Gradually unable | Is able to care for self | Usually able | Gradually unable | Adapted from Gwyther LP: Care of Alzheimer's Patients: A Manual for Nursing Home Staff. Chicago: Alzheimer's Association and American Health Care Association; 1985. |
Researchers do not yet know the exact cause of age-associated memory impairment. However, there are things that contribute to memory change and/or loss. Is age-associated memory impairment a progressive condition? Researchers used to think that age-associated memory impairment developed into Alzheimer's disease, but new research shows that this is not always true. Unlike Alzheimer's disease, age-associated memory impairment is not a progressive condition and is not as disabling as Alzheimer's disease. However, some of the drugs used to treat Alzheimer's disease are now being looked at for treating age-associated memory impairment. A few general rules are helpful if you are diagnosed with age-associated memory impairment: - Use alcohol in moderation.
- Eat well-balanced meals.
- Take all of your drugs as prescribed.
- Also make sure that none of the drugs you take contributes to your memory loss; your health-care provider or pharmacist will be able to advise you.
Last updated August 17, 2004
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