Difference between normal memory loss and signs of dementia
When is forgetting where the car’s parked plain old forgetfulness and when is it a sign of something you should be concerned about. With memory loss being one of the common symptoms people associate with dementia, DailyMail spoke to experts to find out what can be dismissed as absentmindedness and what is a strong indicator you should see a doctor.
Normal memory loss
Stress, depression and lack of sleep can affect your memory, as well as simply trying to do too many things as once. Our short term memories are easily distracted, meaning it will erase trivial details to make way for important memories. These are the times where forgetting something is just par for the course.
- Forgetting what you went upstairs for.
- Taking several minutes to recall where the car is parked.
- Forgetting to call a friend back while working from home with misbehaving children.
- Putting things down and being unable to find them soon after.
- Forgetting something trivial a friend mentioned the day before.
- Forgetting the name of someone you've just met.
- Briefly forgetting the word for something – the 'thingamabob' moment.
Potentially worrying memory loss
These signs are concerning and could signal dementia, but can also be symptomatic of depression, stress or a lack of concentration. A good rule of thumb is if you're aware that you don’t have the best memory or you remember you’ve forgotten, you're unlikely to have dementia.
- Multi-tasking becomes difficult — a good cook suddenly finds preparing a Sunday roast overwhelming.
- Problems negotiating familiar places, such as you regularly can't find your vehicle in the car park.
- Forgetting the names of close relatives and friends.
- Problems recognising faces, colours, shapes and words.
- Repeating the same question asked half an hour previously.
- Changing personality, such as a social butterfly who turns reclusive.
- Finding that you've left objects in the wrong place, such as keys left in the lock, and not remembering leaving them there.
Signs of dementia
As Alzheimer’s affects the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for short-term memory, long-term memory is often unaffected. It means that signs of short-term memory loss like these are strong indicators that you should go visit your doctor.
- Asking for a cup of tea, not realising you've just had one.
- Forgetting a grandchild's name, but childhood memories are vivid.
- No idea how to perform everyday tasks, such as washing.
- Finding family structure confusing, such as not being clear which grandchild belongs to whom.
- Impaired judgement, e.g. wearing a thick overcoat in summer.
- Being unable to tell what the purpose of an everyday object is.
- Not recognising friends and family.
- Leaving belongings in strange places, e.g. a kettle under the bed or a wallet in the fridge.
- Feeling disorientated about time and place – frequently visited places are unfamiliar.
Source: DailyMail
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