52 year old Jonathan Wright lives in a two story house in Oakville, Ontario and, invariably, forgets to bring something upstairs or take something downstairs and has to go all the way up or down again.
“It’s great exercise,” says Wright. “But should I be worried that I keep forgetting stuff?”
Remember the movie, the Absent Minded Professor? Maybe you don’t, but that fits into this story too! Absentmindedness or benign forgetfulness is something all busy people can relate to. Sometimes we forget things because we’re overloaded with work and family concerns, stressed or overtired. Ask anyone who works at a computer all day if they have ever forgotten to add an attachment to an email! Sometimes we forget appointments, birthdays, the name of someone we’ve known for a while.
As we get older we tend to be more forgetful. Some people have more difficulties than others. This is called mild cognitive impairment, a mental wooziness that begins at about 40 and seems more severe than that experienced by friends and colleagues in the same age group. Research shows that individuals with MCI are at high risk of developing a memory disorder over the following years, although not all people with MCI do so. For most of us though, absentmindedness is a natural part of the aging process and does not degenerate into anything more serious than the occasional lapse of memory.
"I see many patients (typically a wife bringing in her husband but occasionally the reverse) who are concerned about their memory,” says Dr. Mike Evans, Healthy Ontario.com’s, Chief Medical Editor. “What is often not spoken about is fear of Alzheimer's, which in my experience is right up there with fear of cancer or heart attack. So I start with that, ruling out Alzheimer's. This can be tricky as there is no perfect test but often the history is very helpful. The vast majority of the time we only find normal memory problems, but occasionally we start to see a picture of early dementia.
Either way, it is important that people talk to their health care providers and express their concerns."
“Because many people don't know exactly what to expect in terms of memory changes with age, there are often concerns about what is and isn't normal,” says Dr. Angela Troyer, a psychiatrist at Toronto’s Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. “Many of the people who come through the Memory and Aging Program here at Baycrest leave feeling relieved, knowing that what they are experiencing is a normal part of aging rather than something to be concerned about.”
For most of us absentmindedness is a natural part of the aging process and does not degenerate into anything more serious than the occasional lapse of memory.
One signal that memory loss is “benign forgetfulness”, rather than something more serious, is that the symptoms are subjective – in other words, you are going to be aware of them before anyone else. Being aware of memory lapses makes it much more likely that no serious disorder is the cause. On the other hand, people with early to mild stage dementia may go to great extremes to hide their forgetfulness from other family members, ignoring or denying their problem.
“You should speak to your physician about your concerns,” says Dr. Troyer, “if you notice any of the following in a loved one: memory problems that interfere with their ability to perform their normal daily activities, problems remembering the names of close relatives or friends they see on a daily basis (such as spouse or children), asking repetitive questions, any sudden changes in their memory. These may suggest that something other than normal aging is causing memory problems.”
Dr. Troyer offers these tips to help ward off forgetfulness:
Keep physically healthy by having regular check-ups with your physician, eating well, exercising, and keeping on top of any medical problems like hypertension or diabetes.
Keep mentally active by pursuing hobbies and interests that are intellectually challenging (such as playing bridge or chess, taking courses, doing crossword puzzles, volunteering, playing a musical instrument, traveling).
Cut down on "multi-tasking" as much as possible so that you can focus on one thing at a time.
Write down any important information you need to remember and refer to your written notes frequently.
Repeat new information to yourself several times to help you remember it (like the name of someone you just met).
Organize yourself and your environment so that you won't misplace items like your keys, wallet, cell phone, or reading glasses.
If you are under a lot of stress, take time to relax; buy a relaxation tape or book if you need ideas about how to decrease stress.
Don't set your expectations too high. We all forget things now and then, and it is OK to say to someone, "I certainly know you, but your name has escaped me just now."
Additional Resources:
Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care and Seneca College have launched Memory Loss and Dementia, an interactive web site that educates the public about normal memory loss as a result of aging, and the more serious abnormal changes associated with dementia.
This information is not intended as a substitute of any kind for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Speak to your healthcare professional before taking any product, changing your lifestyle, or beginning or discontinuing any course of treatment. If you suspect that you are ill or may have a medical emergency, contact a physician or a health professional, or call 9-1-1 immediately.
This article was written by and reproduced with permission from HealthyOntario.com. For more on Senior’s health issues, or general health information, services and tools, visit HealthyOntario.com.
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