Among the numerous health issues associated with aging is memory loss. While forgetfulness is accepted as a natural aspect of aging, dementia is not a normal state of mind. Cognitive functioning, which includes thinking, remembering, learning, and reasoning, is lost in dementia.
In terms of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent. Remarkably, not all cases of forgetting are caused by Alzheimer’s. Experts have frequently observed that a variety of factors, including stress, sadness, drugs, and other medical disorders, can contribute to memory loss and cognitive decline.
People commonly inquire about whether to get treatment and whether forgetfulness is usually an indication of Alzheimer’s disease. Indeed, dementia may manifest as forgetfulness, particularly if it becomes severe and starts to interfere with day-to-day functioning.
Even while many people occasionally forget things, especially as they get older, Alzheimer’s disease causes progressive cognitive impairment that goes beyond typical aging-related changes.
In order to learn more about it and gain specific guidance on what to do in the event that we encounter someone who is exhibiting amnesia or other cognitive symptoms that are chronic or getting worse.
Dr. Mahendra JV, Head of the Department of Neurology at the Ramaiah Institute of Neurosciences, Consultant, that Alzheimer’s is a degenerative neurological illness that impacts thinking, behavior, and memory. It accounts for 60–80% of dementia cases, making it the most prevalent cause.”
Dr. Mahendra emphasized the importance of differentiating between signs of Alzheimer’s disease and typical age-related forgetfulness. According to him, typical forgetfulness can involve sporadically losing items or forgetting names but then remembering them later.
On the other hand, Alzheimer’s disease-related memory loss manifests as difficulty with routine tasks like handling finances or following a recipe, forgetting newly learned information, or asking the same questions over and over again.
Dr. VP Singh, Chairman of Neurosurgery and Neurosciences at Medanta, Gurugram, “It’s important to know the difference between benign memory lapses and something more serious like Alzheimer’s disease.”
Furthermore, according to Dr. Singh, dementia with a more severe form typically interferes with day-to-day functioning.
Dr. Nishant Shanker Yagnick, Consultant in Neurosurgery at Manipal Hospital in Gurugram, that anxiety and sadness can also affect a person’s memory. Improving memory can be facilitated by treating these issues. A healthy sleep schedule is essential for mental well-being. Memory is also impacted by thyroid, vitamin deficiency, and persistent illnesses. These are treatable illnesses, and taking care of the underlying problem will also help the brain operate normally again.”
Dr. Ritu Jha, Director & HOD of Neurology, Neurosciences, Sarvodaya Hospital, Faridabad, stated: “Dementia is diagnosed after ruling out common reversible conditions like medication overdose, emotional disturbances, hormonal imbalance, vitamin B12 deficiency, or some structural lesion in the brain.”
