NBC News reports that about 10% of U.S. adults 65+ have received a dementia diagnosis. What’s even more concerning is that up to 42% of men and women have a lifetime risk of becoming afflicted with this cognitive disorder.
Given those statistics, it’s understandable for seniors in Ridgeland, MS, to feel worried that their losing things can be early signs of dementia or cognitive impairment.
So, is misplacing items a symptom of memory loss in aging? Or is it part of getting old that seniors shouldn’t worry about?
In this guide, the kind and compassionate team at SummerHouse Beau Ridge, our senior living community in Ridgeland, MS, explores insights into those questions. So please read on, as we’ve also shared practical cognitive health tips.
Is Losing Things Normal in Aging?
According to AOL.com, a survey found that Americans lose an average of five items monthly.
So yes, occasionally losing things is common and normal not only as people age but also due to being absent-minded in many cases. The keyword here is “occasionally,” meaning sometimes or now and then.
As people age, the hippocampus, the brain region responsible for memory formation, and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), which helps establish long-term memory, undergo changes. Such alterations cause a decline in their functions, potentially leading to forgetfulness, which can manifest as losing things.
When Does Losing Things Become a Cause of Concern?
Older adults who worry about dementia should note that occasional forgetfulness vs. memory decline differs. The former involves occasional memory lapses that don’t cause adverse or significant impairments in daily life. On the other hand, memory decline, especially severe and persistent memory loss that impedes daily functioning, can be an early sign of dementia.
Ridgeland seniors and their loved ones should be aware that the following could indicate that losing things is no longer just a mild case of forgetfulness.
Frequently Misplacing Items and Not Finding Them
According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), frequently misplacing items and having difficulty finding them are typical signs of dementia.
The above could indicate dementia because this disease affects the brain’s memory formation and retrieval. It causes more severe and frequently occurring memory problems, such as forgetting where one kept or put things down.
Dementia also impairs spatial reasoning and memory. Spatial reasoning is one’s ability to manipulate and understand objects and their relationships. Spatial memory is the ability to remember such relationships.
So, spatial reasoning and memory are critical to people remembering where they put things. Therefore, when dementia impairs these abilities, they may misplace things more frequently due to the inability to recall their “last location.”
Significant Impact on Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
ADLs are the essential self-care tasks people must perform daily to keep themselves safe and healthy. There are two types: basic ADLs, such as eating and bathing, and instrumental ADLs, which require more complex thinking skills, like medication management and meal preparation.
Mild, occasional forgetfulness won’t affect a senior’s ability to perform ADLs. However, dementia can.
Dementia can affect ADLs because it can cause not only frequent misplacement but also the loss of crucial items (e.g., medicines) and even oneself. It also affects executive functioning, a collection of higher-level cognitive skills like:
- Attention
- Working memory
- Planning
- Organization
- Problem-solving
So, older adults with dementia may forget to take their medication because they can’t remember where it is or because they’ve completely forgotten that they take medicines.
In such cases, seniors should consider transitioning to a warm, caring, supportive memory care community in Ridgeland, MS. A perfect example is SummerHouse Beau Ridge, where our highly trained and educated team helps residents with dementia or other memory-related conditions through our SHINE® Memory Care program. We use the latest science-based principles to improve our residents’ comprehension, engagement, and quality of life.
Cognitive Health Tips for Ridgeland Seniors
While occasional forgetfulness is typical as people age, and dementia affects many older adults, it doesn’t mean seniors can no longer do anything about it. There are ways to minimize one’s risk for memory-related problems, which we encourage all of our residents at SummerHouse Beau Ridge to do.
Keep Mental Faculties Active
Activities that engage and work the mind out can help keep the brain in shape. Some examples include:
- Attending informative guest lectures
- Arts and crafts sessions
- Fun yet rousing brain exercises for seniors, such as poker, bingo, and other card or board games
- Reading and joining a book club
At SummerHouse Beau Ridge, we offer daily mental and cognitively engaging activities and events as part of our exclusive senior living programs.
Engage in Daily Physical Activities
Physical activity boosts blood flow to the brain (and the entire body). As a result, it can help keep your memory sharp.
Indeed, the U.S. CDC says it can improve memory while reducing the risk of cognitive decline. Adults should do 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity or 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity weekly for optimal results.
For Ridgeland seniors with limited or restricted mobility, gentle activities, such as chair exercises (e.g., chair yoga and stretching), gardening, and Tai Chi, are excellent options.
Stay Social
Social interaction helps combat stress and mental health concerns like anxiety and depression. Mayo Clinic says these problems can contribute to forgetfulness.
To stay social, regularly text or call loved ones and friends. Seniors can also join a social or hobby club to meet people with similar interests. And, if you or an older loved one moves to SummerHouse Beau Ridge, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to meet new people and make new friends.
Don’t Let Memory Loss Keep You From Living Life to the Fullest
Losing things occasionally isn’t a concern for seniors. However, if such events become more frequent and impact daily life, they should consider seeking memory care.
SummerHouse Beau Ridge, our senior living community in Ridgeland, MS, is proud of its SHINE® Memory Care program, which the Alzheimer’s Association®, the nation’s premier voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care and research, has awarded with a National Certificate of Recognition. We share this distinction with only a tiny, elite group of memory care providers in the country. It’s a testament to our commitment to delivering only high-quality, innovative, compassionate care.
Reach out to us today to learn more and to book a tour of our community!
