What’s the difference between memory loss and dementia?
When it comes to memory loss, it's normal to become a little more forgetful as we age.
However, it’s important to know the difference between a standard level of memory loss, and the early signs of dementia.
Researchers at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) say it is crucially important to distinguish between the physical decline of ageing, and the more sinister reality of cognitive decline.
Associate Professor Simone Reppermund from the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing says, “As we age, we get more frail, and it may be difficult to walk longer distances or to have the range of motion to drive a car.”
“But that's unrelated to cognitive decline, and this is where dementia or cognitive impairment comes in. A person with dementia at some point will not be able to do the things they once could do without thinking, such as drive a car, because they get confused and are no longer able to process the sensory information required to do this.”
Prof. Brodaty went on to say that some cognitive decline is part of normal ageing.
“As we age, we become slower in our processing speed. We’re not as good at remembering things, particularly when they’re not able to be logically sorted and connected.”
But it’s not all bad for older folks, as some things are known to improve with age.
“As we age our vocabulary improves, our judgement improves, our ability to organise things improves. In everyday tests where we can sort, say, 10 grocery items into different categories, we do just as well as the younger person because we can use those strategies to compensate. There is also evidence that we become wiser as we get older.”
According to Dementia Australia, it’s when people encounter difficulties with the following on a regular basis that there could be some underlying cognitive cause worth investigating.
These difficulties include:
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Trouble remembering recent events
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Trouble finding the right word
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Trouble remembering the day and date
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Forgetting where things are usually kept
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Difficulty adjusting to changes in routine
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Trouble understanding written content or a story on television
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Difficulty following conversations in groups
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Problems handling finances
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Difficulty with everyday activities
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Losing interest in activities that were previously enjoyable
Researchers and medical experts say that even if encountering these difficulties has not become a huge hurdle, it is important to be assessed by a doctor.
Some conditions can cause symptoms similar to illnesses of cognitive decline, and can be reversed and prevented if caught early enough.
While Professor Brodaty says there is no cure for most types of dementia and no known way to prevent it, we can certainly delay the onset of it.
“There are certain risk factors that make it more or less likely to develop cognitive decline and dementia, including physical and social inactivity. Being inactive, not engaging in social activities, a poor diet and too much alcohol are all risk factors.”
Even then, Professor Brodaty says, “it’s never too late to start, and never too early to start” making changes that maintain and protect your brain health into old age.
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