Aging Memory
It has been my experience that one common fear people over 50 have is that they will suffer from dementia, perhaps even early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Of course, many of us are aware of someone who is battling the dreaded disease, often someone close to us, so it is natural to wonder if we will also suffer the same fate.
Since people are living longer, the statistics seem to be dire. However, all is not lost. While memory undergoes subtle changes with age, there are many things that can be done to keep our brains healthy. It is not unusual to forget simple things like the reason we came into a room or the name of our neighbor’s dog. My friend Barb calls those brain farts. Colorful word but rather accurate, don’t you think, since we do remember a moment later.
If we forget where we parked the car in the large lot of a mall, we may be tempted to think we’ve really lost it, but that happens to people of all ages. In the days when cars had actual radio antennae, people put a flag or other colorful aid on it so a car could be found easily. Of course, since the car antenna today is mostly invisible within the glass of the windshield that option has gone out the door although we can use our remote keypad as a guide.
Experts say that it’s important to pay attention to simple things that may be causing less than perfect memory, and which we can remedied.
< -- Fatigue: when the body if tired, memory is not as sharp.
< -- Absentmindedness: thinking about half a dozen things at the same time the mind is not as focused.
< -- Grieving: the loss of a loved one can play havoc with our intellectual ability for a time.
< --- Depression: when the mind sees only the dark side of life, memory can become clouded.
< -- Medication: some medication can lower our level of perception.
< -- Alcohol: excessive drinking can perturb the way the brain works and lead to short-term memory loss.
-- Stress and anxiety: they keep attention focused on only one aspect of our lives and can make us forget things we normally would not.
It’s important to get the help we need when we need it to keep the brain and memory sharp.
