One of the primary causes of forgetfulness in elderly individuals is brain changes due to aging. As people grow older, they tend to experience physiological changes that may glitch the brain functions. As a result, they take longer to learn or remember information. The mental process can be slow, but they will eventually recall the information.
Forgetfulness is a normal stage of aging. Some seniors may misplace items and forget phone numbers or other essential details. Such things are signs of normal age-related memory changes and should not worry you. Normal forgetfulness in seniors is different from memory issues like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
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As older adults age, brain changes are inevitable, resulting in normal age-related memory changes. They may forget things quickly and take longer to remember crucial things that happened in the past. The changes are signs of mild forgetfulness and not serious memory problems. You don’t need to panic when these things happen.
Dementia & Alzheimer’s
Dementia is the loss of cognitive functions like thinking, learning, remembering, and reasoning. The damage can be extensive such that it interferes with the seniors’ quality of life. The common sign of dementia is memory loss. On the other hand, Alzheimer’s disease can slowly destroy memory and thinking abilities.
Mild Cognitive Impairment
Alzheimer’s disease can start as a mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in most cases. However, not everyone with signs of mild cognitive impairment will develop Alzheimer’s disease. MCI patients may have more memory or thinking issues than their agemates but can still do normal activities and take care of themselves.
Handling Forgetfulness in Elderly Loved Ones
If your senior loved one has trouble remembering recent activities or events, it could be a sign of forgetfulness in elderly individuals. Talk to friends and family members about it and see a doctor for thorough checkups. The doctor will test and assess the situation to find the root cause of the memory problems. Know that assisted living facilities and memory care options are available to help your loved ones in their daily lives.
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