“There’s recently been a lot of information when it comes to memory loss, only if I could remember where I wrote it down,” says the comedian. Does that sound familiar to you? Has forgetting things been happening to you a lot lately?
Losing things, misplacing your keys, going into a room and not remembering why. Should you be getting worried your mind’s beginning to slip.
There’s documented advice, when it comes to start worrying about your memory loss, as it happens to all of us.
Should it be a concern, or is it just a momentary lapse of concentration from a tired stressed noggin.
Many don’t realize what the normal symptoms are as it sneaks up on you. Most don’t know what the signs are of something much more serious.
One instance can be Alzheimer’s, as this particular disease afflicts over 6 million people in North America.
So how do you know, what are the key indicators of what memory loss is for the aging.
There are certain situations, that could help you decide whether your lapses are just the normal process of time.
Or it could be something you should begin to become concerned about.
Does “Training Your Brain” Actually Help Improve Memory
Methods of training your brain does exist. Some refer to it as brain fitness, much like making your biceps a lot more firm, as it’s also a muscle.
There are products on the market designed specifically for strengthening your cognitive power. Some question however if they even work.
There’s no actual evidence these brain aids are even helpful. The reason because it’s a difficult measurement to gauge, as we all have our good days and our bad days.
There is solid evidence however, certain methods of brain training can actually reverse or slow down memory loss in Alzheimer patients.
Since it’s still in question whether some of these methods can actually help a healthy brain, then why even bother with them, right?
What our brains will often do is somewhat compensate itself naturally for any memory loss, as we grow older, regardless.
From a health standpoint, it never hurts to practice some proven cognitive strengthening techniques, just to keep the mind active.
Certain Prescription Drugs Can Result In Temporary Memory Loss
Older individuals are often prescribed multiple prescription drugs for their various ailments. This to combat their mounting medical issues that’s developed by the aging process.
What some of these drugs can actually do, is cause short-term memory loss to temporary dizziness. The biggest concern is when the various drugs begin interacting with one another.
As a result, there are some who happens to experience “fuzzy mindedlessness” especially when it comes to older individuals.
If this is the case, find out if certain prescription drugs are conflicting with one other.
Does Lapses In Memory Affect Your Life
“Senior moments” do occur, and it’s a common malady among the older folks. These symptoms for some can occur earlier in life.
It can also become a regular occurrence to lose your train of thought midway through speaking. Then you end up asking yourself, “So, what was my point again?”
We often wander into a room with a specific task in mind, only to completely forget what it was once we get there.
Forgetting things that are trivial is common and normal, and can be a regular occurrence once the brain begins to age.
Another cause of memory loss, is attempting to do too much in a short period of time, placing unneeded panic and stress in our lives.
So don’t fret once you’re in a hurry to get the shopping done, and you forget a few grocery items, or you forgot where you parked the car.
Then once you remember what you forget, you slap yourself on the forehead, and tell yourself you’re fine. The key is to not get angry with yourself or panic.
Stress And Sleep Deprivation Cause Memory Lapses
We now live in a fast-paced “zoom-zoom” lifestyle and society. We tend to do way much more than what we’re capable of.
The term for it is “multitasking.” We place too much on our “to-do” plate, and try to consume it all and become overwhelmed.
Once the brain begins to age, it’s simply not able to cope with the added stress, which isn’t the same as becoming demented.
You then suddenly become worried about your finances, how your kids are doing, or the economy.
All these worries compound and then turn into stress and anxiety, which may eventually turn into sleeplessness.
It can become a vicious cycle, and short-term memory loss is usually the result.
For those individuals who displays early signs of dementia however, they’re actions are different.
They will tend to forget vitally important things such as appointments, even if they happen to be eating and sleeping well, or when there’s no stress in their lives.
If this isn’t you to that extremity, then that’s another issue you don’t need to worry about right now.
Others Notice Your Memory Lapses First
Do you constantly repeat yourself when speaking to others, without you even realizing it. Do you constantly tell the same stories to others over and over again.
It’s a common feature of older individuals, this especially if you need to ask, “Have I told you this before?”
That’s however a good sign. It’s good you’re still lucid and aware enough to ask about it.
What immediate friends or family members can often spot, are potentially serious memory problems a lot sooner than you or the professionals can.
There’s No Need To Panic
Is someone who’s close to you, such as a spouse or relative, constantly says..:
• You missed another important appointment
• You’re constantly misplacing your keys or clothing
• You’re forgetting items from the grocery store or doing simple chores, etc.
These are usually just natural signs of an aging brain and the aging process. The recommendation, is to become more mindful and accept the process.
Help yourself by writing things down more often, and don’t be so hard on yourself.
If you’re still able to get to the dinner table on time, read books and magazines, remember important phone numbers. Then the chances are good your memory is still pretty much sound.