Memory loss is abnormal in people with mild cognitive impairment or dementia (a loss of intellectual functions severe enough to interfere with everyday social or occupational functioning).
Mild cognitive impairment
- Important memory impairments occur without loss of independent functioning.
- Forgetfulness and struggling to perform self-care tasks (for example, taking medications, paying bills) but still able to do so without the direct
help of another person.
Dementia: Memory, language, and cognition are so impaired that self-care tasks can no longer be performed without assistance from another person.
Not-so-normal memory
Condition | Symptoms |
Mild cognitive impairment - Aging
- Pre-Alzheimer’s
- Silent "strokes" (infarcts)
- Head injury
| - Forgetfulness or amnesia for recent events
- Need to write reminders to do things or else will forget
- Struggles but is able to perform daily chores and tasks
- Sometimes needs a reminder or prompt to remember
|
Dementia - Alzheimer’s
- Vascular (stroke)
- Others: Pick’s, hydrocephalus, drugs/alcohol, etc.
| - Unable to perform complex daily tasks (for example, paying
bills, taking medications, shopping, driving)
- Loss of insight or awareness of memory loss
- Poor judgment
- Behavioral symptoms (for example, irritability worrying, anger, agitation, suspiciousness)
|
Can normal memory be preserved in aging?
Research has shown the following:
- More education helps preserve "cognitive reserve" and delays the onset of dementia.
- A healthy diet--one high in antioxidants and olive oil--lowers the risk of dementia.
- Cognitive training (memory training, reasoning training, speed-of-process training) improves cognition.
- Playing board games (chess, checkers, cards, learning a second language) and musical instrument delays the onset of dementia.
- Engaging in social activities slows cognitive decline.
- Reducing cardiovascular risks (for example, treating hypertension) delays the onset of dementia.
References:
American Psychological Association. Memory and Aging.
www.apa.org Accessed 7/1/2011
National Institute on Aging. Understanding Memory Loss. www.nia.nih.gov Accessed 7/1/2011
National Institutes of Health. NIH: News In Health: Things Forgotten: Simple Lapse or Serious Problem? newsinhealth.nih.gov Accessed 7/10/2011