Dementia comes in many forms. The one that gets the most attention of course, is Alzheimer’s dementia. But the most common form of dementia is actually senile dementia. This is the normal memory loss that we all development as our brain ages.
I often see older patients, or their immediate family members, who are concerned that they are developing Alzheimer’s dementia because they have difficulty remembering names and phone numbers, where they placed things, or their favorite website. Usually, not to worry.
As we age, the brain just doesn’t function as smoothly or as quickly as it used to. Just like EVERY other organ system in our body. We don’t run as fast. We don’t see as well. We don’t have as much energy. You get the point. And these memory difficulties can often be exasperated by fatigue, stress, too much alcohol, and too many things going on in your life at one time (chaos).
So how do we know when to worry? If you remember shortly after the frustration is over, or with a little prompting, you’re probably OK. If you find the hammer in the refrigerator or the gallon of milk out in the garage, give me a call.
Leave a Reply