Forgetfulness or Dementia: When memory problems require attention
A person may forget the name of an acquaintance and remember it later. But if memory difficulties increase, and habitual activities begin to require the help of loved ones, it is no longer possible to explain this only by age. How age-related changes differ from possible signs of dementia and why it manifests itself not only in forgetfulness is described in the "Izvestia" article on World Alzheimer's Day, which is celebrated on September 21.
How does age-related forgetfulness differ from dementia?
As a person ages, it sometimes takes longer for them to process information, remember a word, or solve a problem. This was announced on September 21 by Sharn Perry, a neuroscientist and senior lecturer at the Wicking Dementia Research Center at the University of Tasmania, at a lecture on the brain and dementia.
According to the expert, with the usual age-related changes, a person, as a rule, continues to cope with everyday tasks. If it has become more difficult to keep individual information in mind, notes and reminders can help him.
"These changes can be annoying, but small adjustments allow us to still cope," explained Perry.
The situation looks different when difficulties become more noticeable, gradually intensify and affect a person's independent life. He may forget recent events, ask one question over and over again, get lost in a familiar place, or have difficulty with tasks that he previously performed without help.
"With dementia, changes in cognitive functions become much more noticeable and serious. They begin to affect the daily life of the person himself, and often his family," the expert said.
Similar examples are provided by the Alzheimer's Association. The organization attributes forgetting a name and later remembering it to possible age-related changes. She calls the reason for going to the doctor, in particular, memory loss, which interferes with normal life, difficulties with familiar tasks and loss of orientation.
At the same time, there is no clear boundary that can be drawn independently for one episode of forgetfulness. There is a moderate cognitive impairment between age-related changes and dementia: problems with memory or thinking are already noticeable, but a person retains the ability to independently perform most daily tasks. This condition may remain stable, have other causes, or progress over time, explains the Alzheimer's Association. It's up to the doctor to figure out the cause.
Why is it not only memory that changes?
Perry explained that dementia is associated with diseases and brain damage, and its manifestations depend on what processes are taking place and which areas are affected. Therefore, changes can start differently for different people.
In Alzheimer's disease, one of the earliest and most noticeable symptoms is often difficulty remembering new information. Perry attributed this to the vulnerability of areas of the brain involved in memory formation. In frontotemporal dementia, changes in behavior, the ability to assess a situation, or speech may be the first to notice themselves.
"Sometimes you can see a loss of empathy, difficulties with reasoning and assessing the situation. A person may become less restrained," said Perry, speaking about possible manifestations of frontotemporal dementia.
This does not mean that any change in character indicates such a disease. The symptoms vary and require a medical assessment. The Alzheimer's Association notes that in some forms of frontotemporal dementia, behavioral or speech changes may be more noticeable than memory problems at an early stage.
In vascular dementia, disorders are associated with a deterioration in the blood supply to areas of the brain. According to Perry, the manifestations in this case depend on which area is affected. After a stroke, changes sometimes become noticeable suddenly, but when small vessels are affected, they can increase gradually. Therefore, a sharp deterioration cannot be considered an obligatory sign of vascular dementia.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dementia can affect memory, thinking, speech, mood, and behavior. Sometimes changes in mood or behavior appear before pronounced memory problems. However, dementia is not an inevitable part of aging.
Why is it important for loved ones to know a person's habits
Perry suggested looking at the behavior of a person with dementia not only as a set of symptoms. She recounted a case that an employee of the care facility had told her about: one of the residents left the room every day for about four hours and made movements with his hands. The staff didn't understand what was going on until they found out that he used to work as a farmer and usually drove cows at that time.
"Often, such behavior has a basis and a meaning, although it may not correspond to the current situation," explained Perry.
This case does not allow us to judge the behavior of all people with dementia. However, it shows why relatives and specialists need to know a person's previous routine, work and habitual activities. This information can help you understand the repetitive action and choose a more appropriate way to communicate and leave.
When should I see a doctor?
The reason for the consultation may be changes that are repeated, amplified, or interfere with the usual life: it is becoming more difficult for a person to perform familiar actions, navigate, maintain a conversation, or make everyday decisions. It is worth paying attention to the observations of loved ones, especially if the person himself does not notice the changes.
The symptoms are not equivalent to a diagnosis. Memory impairments can be associated with various causes, including stress, fatigue, illness, or medication. When contacting the doctor, the doctor clarifies when the changes appeared, how they developed and whether they affect a person's independence. If necessary, memory and thinking tests, examinations and additional studies are carried out. This approach helps to find out the cause and determine further actions.
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