As we age, we might notice that it becomes harder to recall things like the name of the song we heard on the radio yesterday or where we set our keys after coming home from the grocery store last night. But we shouldn’t be alarmed about feeling a little forgetful as we age—some memory loss is normal as we begin to slowly lose brain cells, a few at a time.
Aging typically doesn’t affect our short and long-term memories, but recent memory can be affected as our bodies start making less of the chemicals our brains need to work.
However, some types of memory loss are not normal and may be a sign of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Alzheimer’s disease starts by affecting recent memory, a person might remember every detail of their distant past, but forget recent conversations or events. The disease eventually affects all parts of memory.
If you or a loved one experiences any of the following memory problems, you should consider speaking with a doctor, as they might be signs of something more serious:
- Memory lapses that get much worse over time. (Normal memory loss doesn’t get much worse over time.)
- Forgetting how to do things you’ve done many times before, such as following a recipe, driving to the store or putting on makeup.
- Trouble learning new things.
- Repeating phrases or stories in the same conversation.
- Not being able to keep track of what happens each day.
*Content expressed in Home Security Source does not represent the thoughts and opinions of ADT Security Services, Inc. unless explicitly indicated.