June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness month. We wanted to take this opportunity to talk about the difference between Dementia and the effects of “Normal Aging” on our memory. If you are concerned that you or a family member is developing issues with memory, contact your physician to discuss your symptoms.
By Erika Bennett PT, DPT
Let’s face it we have all had times where we forget why we walked into a room or misplaced our cellphone we just had in our hand. It’s not uncommon for everybody of all ages to have a the colloquial “senior moment” or temporary memory lapse that you laugh off as “normal aging” or “just a part of old age.” However, you might be wondering when these lapses should become less humorous and more serious.
It's true that our mental capabilities diminish as we age. Almost 40% of us will experience some form of memory loss after we turn 65 years old. But even if we experience memory loss, chances are still unlikely that we will have dementia. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that, after we turn 60 years old, 5% to 8% of us will live with dementia at some point.
Age-associated memory impairment does not disrupt your daily life or affect the ability for you to perform your usual tasks. People with dementia are disrupted by their memory impairment and have difficulty learning and remembering new things. Difficulty remembering things on occasion is most likely age-associated memory impairment and is considered normal.
Dementia may be considered if you find it difficult to complete tasks you are familiar with and when others notice changes in your cognitive ability. People with dementia often have difficulty orienting to time and place or difficulty with language. Other signs of dementia include changes in personality, mood, or behavior. Dementia often is associated with impaired judgement, difficulty with abstract thinking, and misplacing objects where they do not belong.
Can you identify which scenario would be considered signs of dementia? (See answers below. )
1. You are having a conversation with a former high school friend and cannot remember the name of a classmate.
2. You couldn’t remember you left your keys in your jacket pocket.
3. You consistently forget a password for a website.
4. You feel like your memory is declining but your relatives and friends do not notice a change.
5. You notice your friend who is an accountant is finding it difficult to use a calculator.
6. You couldn’t remember what you ate for dinner last night.
7. Your elderly friend can no longer knit a simple potholder.
8. You notice your family put her hairbrush in the freezer.
9. Your 10-year bridge partner will no longer come to bridge club with you.
10. You cannot remember the actress in the movie you watched last night.
Answers: 5, 7, 8, 9
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia you can benefit from speech, occupational, or physical therapy. Many of our clinicians are Geriatric and Dementia certified therapists and eager to support you.