As you age, it is natural to forget things, and this can make us uneasy. After all, Alzheimer’s disease affects 5.3 million Americans, and some of them are still in their 40s and 50s. But remember that many types of memory loss are just due to much more benign issues of aging.
Many types of memory loss are NOT Alzheimer’s disease
How can we tell the difference between regular memory loss due to aging and Alzheimer’s? Below are several guidelines to keep in mind:
It Is Not Serious If the Memory Loss Does Not Interfere With Life
Everyone forgets things. You might forget the name of a movie or actor, or the name of the coach on your grandson’s soccer team. Slower recall of this sort of information is very normal. It can be caused by the naturally aging brain and lifestyle issues, such as trying to do to many things in one day. However, what is not normal is when your loss of memory is interfering with your ability to function during your day. Regular daily activities depend upon rote steps that your brain has to remember. A healthy brain isn’t going to forget them.
If you can still work normally, make meals, brush your teeth, get dressed and manage your checkbook, you do not have Alzheimer’s disease.
If Your Memory Improves After Brain Training, You Don’t Have the Disease
There are many brain fitness products on the market. There is no evidence that these types of brain gains or cognitive training exercises can help with Alzheimer’s disease. Remember – dementia is more a problem of not being able to form new memories, more so than retrieving old ones.
If You Are Just Starting New Medication, It’s Probably Not Serious
Think about what else is happening in your life before you get too concerned about faulty memory. Drug side effects can cause memory problems. As a matter of fact, older adults who are taking several prescriptions can often have various drug interaction problems, including loss of memory.
Some drugs known to cause memory problems include Xanax, Ambien and Valium. Lipitor, Tagamet and Detrol also can make your memory fuzzy.
If No One Else Notices, It’s Probably Not Serious
People who are developing Alzheimer’s disease will usually start to have other people in their family notice that something is not right. You will forget to do things, miss appointments, forget to pay important bills, forget to bathe, and possibly even get lost when you are driving. If there is a lot of family friction going on because of your memory lapses, you may have a more serious problem. But if your family is mostly just joking about your occasional loss of memory, it probably is not Alzheimer’s.
While you may not suffer from Alzheimer’s, there is a good chance that you may know someone eventually who does. We offer many excellent Alzheimer’s supplies that can make the lives of the patient and caregiver much easier. One common problem with Alzheimer’s patients is their tendency to wander where they should not. The Posey Stop Sign Door Banner will help to keep them out of places they should not go.