Memory is a sometimes a touchy subject. The degree to which it bothers you may be a tipoff that something’s wrong.
Today we’ll look at how forgetfulness can be an annoyance or a sign of something more serious.
ARTICLE:
As you age you may see that your memory is not as good as it used to be. This could affect your ability to learn and remember new things.Some of these changes in memory can be due to lack of attention. For example, if you’re a working parent you may be on overwhelm.
You’re trying to remember who needs to go where and when. This is considered a normal memory problem.
There are biological reasons for memory loss, too. Over the years the brain changes.
The ability to process information and to react to it slows, as does the ability to multi-task. You can curb the process with a little more effort to learn and remember new things.There are differences in normal and abnormal cognitive and biological changes. Abnormal changes can be the effects of dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Here are some ways to tell normal forgetfulness from abnormal forgetfulness:
1. The passage of time –
The passing of time is often to blame for decreased memory in normal aging. If you don’t think about particular memories often, you might forget them.
A less important event might mean more chance of forgetting the details. This isn’t unusual.
The memories that you call upon more often tend to stay front of mind. Bottom line: if you don’t use those memories, you lose them.
Abnormal forgetfulness is the inability to recall recent events. Things like what you ate for breakfast or who visited you that day.
2. Stressful events –
If you’re trying to remember events from a time of stress in your life, it’s likely due to normal memory lapses. During times of stress, your brain has a harder time storing information.
3. Repetition –
If you tell your kids the same story over a couple of weeks it’s called simple forgetfulness. But if you tell them the same story during a short visit it may be more serious.
4. Date –
You might forget exact dates, but you have a general idea of the time of the month. This is common.
You would likely have the presence of mind to, say, check a newspaper for your answer. It’s a different story if you don’t even know what year it is.
5. Self-care abilities –
You may experience some forgetfulness now and then. But you still remember to wash and dress yourself.
You eat at your usual times. You go to the grocery store.
And you take your medications. You may need to use a pill box as a personal reminder but your memory is likely still within range for your age.
It’s a different story if you don’t remember how to do these tasks or even that they need to get done.
6. Familiarity –
Sometimes you get lost in unfamiliar locations, such as when you’re visiting a new area of your city. Usually not a big deal.
It’s another matter when you get lost in your neighborhood. Or if you don’t remember your own family members.
7. Frustration levels –
Talking about forgetfulness is not likely a trigger for anger. But a memory problem can cause angry outbursts to someone faced with questions.
They don’t want to be tested about dates, places, and more. They may even accuse you of stealing something that they lost and cannot locate.
JohnK 7-19-2018
Overheard: “As you get older three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I can’t remember the other two.” ~ British comedian Sir Norman Wisdom
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