As with any other physical changes that you might be experiencing while growing up, forgetfulness is also a part of aging. You may worry about forgetfulness being a sign of something more serious, such as a memory disorder, like Alzheimer’s or dementia. However, not all forgetfulness would necessarily mean this. This is because growing up would cause changes in your brain, alongside other body parts. However, how do you distinguish between normal forgetfulness and dementia? Read on to find out the difference and what you can do if your forgetfulness is a sign of something more serious.
What are Common Memory Problems You Might Face Due to Normal Forgetfulness?
Your memory process is made up of many different activities which is why normal forgetfulness can affect a few different skills that you might be used to doing normally. Here are some examples:
- Struggling to remember things that happened years ago
- General knowledge decreasing
- Struggling to perform tasks that require higher memory skills
- Learning new information and recalling this information takes longer
- Struggle to remember new names or names of people you’re not extremely familiar with
- The ability to problem-solve slows down
What Can Cause Memory Loss?
Memory loss does not only occur due to age. There might be other medical conditions that can result in memory loss so if you think that your memory loss is more severe than what you expected, it may be due to the following reasons. As usual, if you are troubled by your illness, do go and seek treatment or advice from a trusted medical professional.
- Tumors
- Blood clots
- Infections in your brain
- Thyroid disorders
- Kidney disorders
- Liver disorders
- Head injuries, such as getting concussed due to falls
- Side effects caused by medication
- Not eating enough healthy foods
- Getting too few vitamins or minerals in your body
- Emotional problems such as anxiety or depression
If after seeking treatment for the above situations your memory does not improve, please seek medical attention as this forgetfulness might be caused due to more serious memory-loss-related problems.
What is Not a Part of Normal Forgetfulness?
If you feel as though leading a normal lifestyle is becoming challenging due to your forgetfulness, this might be a symptom of something more serious. For example, forgetting to turn off the kettle or forgetting where you live are obvious signs of something that’s more dangerous for your health. The symptoms of dementia are not seen in individuals struggling with normal forgetfulness as these symptoms very clearly prevent someone from leading a normal or healthy life.
What Can You Do to Be Less Forgetful?
If you are someone who wishes to take a more active stance against being forgetful, here are some tips that you can implement.
- Maintain good blood pressure levels
- Maintain good cholesterol levels
- Maintain good blood glucose levels
- Decrease the amount that you’re smoking
- Avoid any excessive drinking habits
- Eat a healthier diet that is higher in antioxidants. Our chefs prepare healthy and nutritious meals with wholesome ingredients as part of our dining program.
- Reduce your stress levels
- Get more sleep every night
