Memory Loss

Doctors agree that early identification and treatment of memory loss are crucial. However, many people wonder how to recognize the early signs of serious memory loss. How are these signs different from the "senior moments" that we joke about? A few things to keep in mind:

• While delayed recall tends to be more frequent as we age, serious, progressive memory loss is not a normal, inevitable part of the aging process.
• If you have difficulty remembering a name or a word, but then recall it later, this is probably just a temporary retrieval" problem caused by an overload of information.
• Serious memory loss causes inability to retain new information and "make new memories". The individual may have difficulty remembering conversations, events, appointments and/or where he or she has put things.
• Other early signs of serious memory loss may include getting lost, difficulty handling complex multi-step tasks, impaired problem-solving ability, personality changes, (such as irritability, in-attentiveness, defensiveness, suspiciousness), problems with word-finding and difficulty understanding words or ideas.