As we age, we are more likely to struggle to remember things. That doesn’t mean we have dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. It might simply be that we’re forgetting things, reports Sarah Bradley for Women’s Health.
So, if you are over 65 and can’t remember the name of the bartender at the pub you frequent, is that dementia? Likely not, at least according to one neurologist at the University of Michigan. More likely, it’s simply that your brain is changing as you age.
Don’t fret. It’s entirely normal for you to process information less quickly and to struggle to recall names a little more as you get older. If you had Alzheimer’s, you probably would forget major happenings in your life.
Here’s when to worry: You forget about a trip you just took or having gone to a big family event in the recent past. Or, you put the eggs in the oven or your toothbrush in the fridge. Or, you don’t know what day it is.
You also should see a doctor if you are having trouble speaking or seeing. Your vision blurs or you can’t say what you want to and need to do a work-around. No problem if you can’t see something far away or mistakenly write down something incorrectly. That’s normal.
You might want to see a doctor if you can’t think straight or finish an activity or are feeling like your judgment is impaired. Here, we are talking about the big stuff. If you can’t decide when to leave the house or what to eat for lunch, that could be a problem. It’s also concerning if you can’t follow a recipe or a google map direction.
Some people with early dementia experience a desire not to engage socially. Of course, it could also be that you have less energy as you get older. You should be concerned if you can’t recall that you are supposed to be at a meeting or a party or you don’t want to talk to other people. If you sense that your behavior is changing dramatically, talk to your doctor.
Similarly, if your character or your mood is changing significantly and you are acting or feeling unlike yourself, something could be amiss. It could be an early sign of dementia.
Here’s more from Just Care:
- Six warning signs of dementia
- What’s a dementia directive?
- How to reduce your risk of dementia
- Vigorous exercise found to ward off dementia
- Prevent dementia: Take care of your eyes
