Mind Your Memory
How to know when forgetfulness might be the result of something serious.
Names. House keys. Where we parked the car.
We all forget things at times. But at what point is memory loss an indication that something more serious is happening?
While many assume the worst when they fail to remember simple things, memory lapses can be caused by stress, Vitamin B-12 deficiency or even a combination of prescription drugs.
"When your memory loss begins affecting the quality of your life, when it becomes a difficulty in how you live your life, that's when it needs to be addressed," says Eric Hall, chief executive officer of the national nonprofit Alzheimer's Foundation of America.
People aren't exactly eager to talk about the problem, however, according to a recent study by the Metlife Mature Market Institute.
The study, conducted in collaboration with the Alzheimer's Foundation of America and the Center for Productive Aging at Towson University, looked at people who attended a voluntary, free memory screening during National Memory Screening Day in November 2005. Of those surveyed, 73% had memory concerns, but only 24% of that group shared those feelings with a doctor.
That reluctance likely has to do with the lack of a cure for Alzheimer's, which affects an estimated one in ten people over 65 and nearly 50% of those over 85.
"There's still a stigma with the disease," says Dr. Eric Tangalos, a Rochester, Minn.-based board member of the American Geriatrics Society and the AGS Foundation for Health in Aging. "People ask, 'Do I lose my ability to drive? What will happen to my insurability?' These are all legitimate concerns."
Delaying diagnosis can backfire, however, since the treatments available, which can only offset the progression of symptoms, tend to be most effective in the early stages of the disease.
People should consider going to the doctor for an evaluation when memory loss is accompanied by problems in one or more areas of cognitive ability such as orientation, language skills, visual spatial skills and attention. Other red flags are if memory loss interferes with your ability to conduct your daily routine or you're experiencing behavioral problems, says Dr. Jerry Johnson, professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and chief of the Division of Geriatric Medicine.
Those experiencing significant memory losses may try to cover it up by being less social, so they're not subjected to any tests. Johnson says he turns to "informants," such as a spouse or a daughter, who know a patient and can tell something is different or wrong.
While there isn't conclusive evidence supporting the idea that exercising the brain strengthens memory, doctors still recommend it. That could mean reading, having a conversation, learning a new language or learning to dance.
With so much confusion about the finer points of memory loss, the bottom line is that people concerned about it should feel comfortable turning to a physician.
"[Alzheimer's] is a very prevalent problem among people as they get older and older," Tangalos says. "We don't want them running away from the disease, we want them running toward it. There's hope in terms of treatment."
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