![]() ![]() Memory, forgetfulness, and aging: What's normal and what's not? National Institute on Aging.Mild cognitive impairment: Epidemiology, pathology and clinical assessment. 10 early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's.Do memory problems always mean Alzheimer's disease? National Institute on Aging.You might be referred to a specialist in diagnosing dementia or memory disorders, such as a neurologist, psychiatrist, psychologist or geriatrician. He or she may also order blood tests, brain-imaging scans and other tests that can help identify reversible causes of memory problems and dementia-like symptoms. In addition to a general physical exam, your doctor will likely conduct question-and-answer tests to judge your memory and other thinking skills. Have you recently had a major loss, a major change or stressful event in your life?.Have you recently been in an accident, fallen or injured your head?.What have you done to cope with memory problems?.What medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs and dietary supplements, do you take and in what doses?.Untreated sleep apnea can cause memory problems that improve with appropriate treatment. A tumor or infection in the brain can cause memory problems or other dementia-like symptoms. An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) can result in forgetfulness and other thinking problems. A vitamin B-12 deficiency - common in older adults - can cause memory problems. Vitamin B-12 helps maintain healthy nerve cells and red blood cells. Alcohol can also cause memory loss by interacting with medications. Chronic alcoholism can seriously impair mental abilities. Stress, anxiety or depression can cause forgetfulness, confusion, difficulty concentrating and other problems that disrupt daily activities. A head injury from a fall or accident - even if you don't lose consciousness - can cause memory problems. Certain medications or a combination of medications can cause forgetfulness or confusion. Possible causes of reversible memory loss include: Your doctor can screen you for conditions that cause reversible memory impairment. Many medical problems can cause memory loss or other dementia-like symptoms. Memory loss isn't always the first sign, and the type of memory problems varies. The disease process (pathology) of each of these conditions is different. A combination of several of these types of dementia (mixed dementia).limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE).Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia.Having changes in mood or behavior for no apparent reasonĭiseases that cause progressive damage to the brain - and consequently result in dementia - include:.Getting lost while walking or driving in a familiar area.Misplacing items in inappropriate places, such as putting a wallet in a kitchen drawer.Taking longer to complete familiar tasks, such as following a recipe.Mixing words up - saying "bed" instead of "table," for example.Watch out for the side effects of mixing medications.Often, memory loss that disrupts your life is one of the first or more-recognizable signs of dementia.If you are having trouble with your vision or hearing, get it checked out.Keep your fasting blood sugar less than 100mg/dL.Keep your blood pressure in a range that is healthy for you.Keep your total cholesterol below 200 and your low-density lipoproteins (LDLs – “bad cholesterol”) less than 130.Ask your doctor if you should take a daily baby aspirin to keep your arteries open and functioning properly.The best time to weigh in is in the morning before you have eaten anything. A good way to keep the numbers from sneaking up on you is to weigh in every couple of days and adjust your diet and exercise accordingly. Many people do not realize they are gaining weight until their clothes no longer fit and they weigh themselves. ![]() Watch Your WeightĪ good way to maintain a healthy weight is to weigh in on a regular basis. Get active at least five days a week for thirty minutes or more each day. If you drink alcohol, limit your consumption to one drink a day for women or two drinks a day for men.
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