Memory and Aging

Written by: Dr. Marcia Whalen

Does it seem like you’re always looking for your keys when you walk out the door now? Are you repeating yourself during conversations or can’t remember small details? Are you concerned that your memory is getting worse?

A certain amount of memory decline is to be expected as our brains age but when should you be worried about significant “cognitive impairment” that may need medical intervention? At Personalcare Physicians, we are utilizing a diagnostic screening tool that can identify this subtle memory loss and distinguish normal aging from abnormal memory loss.  By detecting any signs of mild cognitive impairment of the brain early, we can help you to find and treat the cause.

The MCI Screen is designed to accurately measure an individual’s memory function. This short, accurate memory test can be performed in the comfort of our office. Answers are analyzed by a computerized scoring method with results provided to your physician to review with you. This diagnostic tool enables a physician to distinguish normal aging from subtle memory changes due to other medical causes. It is about 97% accurate.

Conditions such as anxiety, sleep deprivation, ADHD, depression, thyroid gland disease, diabetes, metabolic encephalopathy, Vitamin deficiency, infections and medications can cause significant memory loss. The effects can often be reversed after finding the cause and with the appropriate treatment.

Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease and dementia are the first culprits patients associate with memory loss, and usually the worst case scenario. Through early diagnosis and treatment, doctors can work towards a reduced rate of memory decline and often allow patients to continue living a good quality of life for a long time.

A complete list of what may cause memory loss is available here, but in the meantime, take the following short test for yourself. Check off any of the following if you have found you are having increasing difficulty with the tasks.

Symptoms of Medical Conditions:

• Forgetting important details of things you have done in the past few weeks.
• Forgetting to do things you said you would do.
• Forgetting recent events or conversations.
• Retelling a story or joke to the same person because you forgot that I had already told them.
• Completing complex tasks at work or home (i.e. balancing checkbook, planning projects).

Symptoms of Normal Aging:

• Forgetting the name of someone you know well.
• Forgetting what you were going to say in a conversation.
• Forgetting what you were going to do when going into another room.
• Finding things you have just put down.
• Recalling a specific word you want to use.

If you’re worried about memory loss, give your personal physician a call to speak about options and possibly taking the short MCI Screen.