Karen’s Korner,
A few facts to remember: We all have senior moments. According to Good Rx Health, “Senior moments are normal and nothing to worry about. Age-related memory changes happen to everyone. As you get older, the connections in your brain start to slow down a bit. That means you don’t process information as quickly as when you were younger.
But when given time to think, most older adults perform the same or better on tests of cognitive function as younger people. Cognitive function is a measure of how you think — specifically how you learn or problem solve. Memory, reasoning, and language are all part of cognition.”
The article goes on to list examples of senior moments:
- Forgetting where you put an object, like your keys or glasses
- Forgetting the name of a celebrity on television, a relative, or friend you haven’t seen in a while
- Substituting one word with a similar but incorrect one
- Not remembering why you went into a room
- Having trouble recalling an address or phone number that you usually know by heart
- Forgetting to lock the front door or close the garage
- Losing the remote control
Senior moments are not a cause for concern — especially if they don’t happen too often. But it’s natural to wonder if your episodes are truly senior moments or if something else is going on.
The article went on to say: “As you age, your body and mind experience natural changes. And age-related memory changes are normal. Normal senior moments don’t occur too often, and they don’t interfere with your day-to-day life. But don’t hesitate to talk to your provider if you notice they are happening more often or if they feel new or unusual for you. Your provider can help you figure out if your “senior moments” are potentially a sign of something more serious.”
Hang in there! Talk to your physician if you are concerned. Tell someone if your memory begins to interfere with your daily tasks ….now where did I put my keys?