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Memory loss: When to seek help
By Mayo Clinic staffComplications (1)
- Alzheimer's: Managing sleep problems
Definition (1)
- Early-onset Alzheimer's: When symptoms begin before 65
Risk factors (2)
- Alzheimer's: Is it in your genes?
- Diabetes and Alzheimer's linked
Symptoms (3)
- Alzheimer's stages: How the disease progresses
- Memory loss: When to seek help
- Alzheimer's or depression: Could it be both?
Tests and diagnosis (3)
- Diagnosing Alzheimer's: An interview with a Mayo Clinic specialist
- SPECT scan
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
Treatments and drugs (3)
- Alzheimer's: Getting the most from medical appointments
- Alzheimer's drugs slow progression of disease
- Alzheimer's treatments: What's on the horizon?
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Memory loss: When to seek help
Many problems besides Alzheimer's can cause memory loss in older people. Before jumping to conclusions, consider the other possibilities.
By Mayo Clinic staffEveryone forgets things. How many times have you lost your car keys or forgotten the name of a person you just met? Forgetfulness tends to increase with age, but there's a big difference between normal absent-mindedness and the type of memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Normal aging and memory loss
Normal age-related memory loss doesn't prevent you from living a full and productive life. You just need more time to remember a name or the task you had set out to do. You're aware that you're forgetful and may even joke about it.
People with memory loss due to something other than normal aging, such as Alzheimer's disease, may feel that something's not quite right, but they're unable to pinpoint what's bothering them. Rather than call attention to a memory lapse, they may behave as if everything is fine.
Alzheimer's disease and memory loss
Memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease gets worse over time, but it certainly isn't the only symptom of the disease. Some of the earliest signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include:
- Asking the same questions repeatedly
- Difficulty remembering common words when speaking
- Mixing words up — saying "bed" instead of "table," for example
- Being unable to complete familiar tasks, such as following a recipe
- Misplacing items in inappropriate places, such as putting a wallet in the refrigerator
- Getting lost while driving on familiar streets
- Undergoing sudden changes in mood or behavior for no apparent reason
- Becoming less able to follow directions
Reversible causes of memory loss
Many other medical problems cause symptoms similar to Alzheimer's. That's why it's so important to consult a doctor if you've noticed memory lapses or uncharacteristic mood swings in yourself or in someone close to you.
Possible causes of reversible memory loss include:
- Medications. Sometimes, a single medication causes side effects that mimic symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Drug interactions, which sometimes occur in people taking multiple medications, can cause confusion and forgetfulness as well. Medications that can impact memory include pain medications, blood pressure medications and sedatives. Be sure to give your doctor a list of all medications you use, including herbal remedies and over-the-counter items.
- Minor head trauma or injury. Some people can lose consciousness after a fall and not realize it. See your doctor if you find an unexplained, tender lump on your head. Also talk to your doctor if you start to feel mentally fuzzy after what seems like a minor fall.
- Depression or other mental health disorder. Stress, anxiety or depression can cause forgetfulness or confusion, particularly in older people. When the sadness or stress passes, the symptoms go away too. Your doctor can use neurological and psychological evaluations to test you for depression.
- Alcoholism. Chronic alcoholism can seriously impair mental abilities. Alcohol can also cause memory loss by interacting with your medicines.
- Vitamin B-12 deficiency. Vitamin B-12 helps maintain healthy nerve cells and red blood cells. A vitamin B-12 deficiency — common in older adults — can cause memory problems.
See your doctor
If you're concerned about memory loss, see your doctor. He or she can help determine the cause of your memory loss. Preparing a list of questions will help make the most of your time with your doctor. List questions from most important to least important in case time runs out.
If you experience memory loss, some basic questions to ask the doctor include:
- Are my symptoms caused by normal aging, or is it a sign of something more serious?
- What are the possible causes of memory loss besides Alzheimer's disease?
- Is the condition likely temporary or chronic?
- What tests do you recommend?
- Should I consult a specialist? What will that cost, and will insurance cover it?
- What's the best course of action?
- What are the alternatives to the primary approach being suggested?
- Is there a generic alternative to the medicine that may be prescribed?
- Are there any restrictions?
- What results can I expect?
- Can I wait to see if the condition goes away on its own?
- What kind of follow-up, if any, should I expect?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material or Web sites to look at?
A multitude of things can cause forgetfulness, and many of them are reversible. Work with your doctor to determine what's going on with your memory and what can be done about it.
- Alzheimer's symptoms. National Institute on Aging. http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/AlzheimersInformation/Symptoms. Accessed April 27, 2009.
- Grabowski TJ Jr, et al. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of Alzheimer disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 27, 2009.
- Forgetfulness: It's not always what you think. National Institute on Aging. http://www.niapublications.org/agepages/forgetfulness.asp. Accessed April 27, 2009.
- 10 signs of Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_10_signs_of_alzheimers.asp. Accessed April 27, 2009.
- Brewer JB, et al. Memory. In: Goetz CG. Textbook of Clinical Neurology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Saunders; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/135285741-4/0/1488/42.html?tocnode=53800427&fromURL=42.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3618-0..10005-0_195. Accessed May, 4 2009.
