| Experts say some memory lapses are actually | | | | memory of an experience, but memory distortion |
| normal. So before you go diagnosing yourself with | | | | does occur. The longer the period of time that |
| Alzheimer's disease, take heart. It is said that | | | | passes between an event and trying to recall it, |
| memory loss is the second thing that occurs as | | | | the greater the chance people are going to have |
| you age. So what's the first? Umm, I forgot! | | | | some memory distortions and forgetfulness. |
| Actually, by the time you reach the end of this | | | | Occasionally, time distortion causes us to forget |
| story, you may remember only a fraction of it. | | | | the event completely. |
| Don't worry, you're not alone. | | | | Short of Alzheimer's disease, other causes of |
| Mild memory loss is perfectly normal, especially as | | | | memory loss can include: stress and anxiety, |
| we age. It has happened to all of us at one time | | | | ADHD, depression, thyroid gland diseases, |
| or another; You draw a complete blank when | | | | diabetes, lung, liver, or kidney failure, alcoholism, |
| introducing a new acquaintance. You leave the | | | | Vitamin B-12 deficiency, infections, and both |
| house with food bubbling on the stove. You forget | | | | prescription and over-the-counter drugs. |
| to pick up your child from after-school practice. | | | | Depression and stress are the most common |
| You forget a doctor's appointment, a birthday, an | | | | reasons for temporary memory problems. The |
| anniversary. Oh - and let's not forget the | | | | causes of memory loss from many of these |
| all-too-often search for car keys. | | | | conditions are normally reversible. |
| If you sometimes forget simple things, you're not | | | | No matter how "normal" memory lapses may be, |
| necessarily developing Alzheimer's disease. There | | | | that doesn't make them any less frustrating. |
| are many people like yourself walking around who | | | | Experts agree that the best way to keep your |
| occasionally misplace their keys, who can't recall | | | | brain fit is to keep using it. Four things that slow |
| the name of one new person they met at their | | | | down brain aging include: mental activity, physical |
| last office party, and have that | | | | fitness, stress reduction, and a healthy diet. Those |
| "deer-in-the-headlights" look when searching for | | | | with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, |
| their car in the parking lot. There's a reason | | | | and other conditions increase their risk for small |
| Disney has character-themed floors coupled with | | | | strokes in the brain. Also antioxidants help protect |
| the happy-go-lucky music in their parking garages. | | | | brain cells and exercise helps with overall health. |
| Memory, the ability to normally recall the facts | | | | The most important things to help extend and |
| and events of our lives, takes place in three | | | | maintain your cognitive abilities for a longer period |
| stages: | | | | of time include staying intellectually and socially |
| Stage 1 - Encoding: When a person takes | | | | engaged. Also by challenging yourself by learning |
| information in. | | | | new things, reading, and taking up hobbies keep |
| Stage 2 - Consolidation: When the brain takes the | | | | the brain active and strong for the long haul. |
| encoded information and processes it, storing it in | | | | Some other things you can do to improve |
| certain areas of the brain. | | | | memory include: Focusing your attention on the |
| Stage 3 - Retrieval:. When someone recalls stored | | | | task at hand. Multitasking and not paying attention |
| information in the brain. | | | | are two of the biggest causes of forgetfulness. |
| For a layman, differentiating between normal | | | | Reduce stress, get plenty of sleep, organize |
| memory loss and Alzheimer's disease can be | | | | yourself by writing things down or using date |
| puzzling because the kind of memory that is | | | | books. |
| affected in everyday situations is also the kind | | | | When should you see a doctor? Research shows |
| affected in the early stages of Alzheimer's | | | | that up to half of people over age 50 have mild |
| disease. | | | | forgetfulness linked to age-associated memory |
| Time is memory's worst enemy. Memory loss | | | | impairment. But there are signs when more |
| and brain aging are a natural part of getting older. | | | | serious memory conditions, such as Alzheimer's |
| In their 50s, people will often start to report that | | | | disease, are happening. While there is no definitive |
| they think their memories are going. Because | | | | way to pinpoint Alzheimer's, there are some |
| they have to use more reminders or more kinds | | | | diagnostic ways doctors distinguish normal |
| of strategies for remembering things, older adults | | | | memory loss from that which should raise |
| seem to be consciously aware of their memory | | | | concern. Normal forgetfulness can include: |
| loss. | | | | forgetting where you parked your car, forgetting |
| But even before we hit our 50s, memory loss | | | | a person's name, but can recall it later, or |
| can start to occur. Shortly after receiving | | | | forgetting events from your past. More serious |
| information, our memory begins to deteriorate. | | | | symptoms and possible problems of forgetfulness |
| Some information fades right away, while other | | | | include: recalling recent events, how to drive a car, |
| things fade less quickly. There are many different | | | | forgetting to have ever known a particular |
| forgetting curves with different rates of | | | | person, confusion, and loss of function. |
| forgetting that depend on the nature of the | | | | Many doctors feel that if you are worried about |
| material, on how important the information is to | | | | your memory, the problem probably isn't that |
| you, and how high your stress levels are. | | | | serious. However you should consult a doctor |
| Studies show that after some time, people | | | | when your relatives or friends express concerns |
| probably don't remember events as they actually | | | | about your memory loss. |
| happened. You may think you have a vivid | | | | |