Karen’s Korner,
One of the major aging issues we face at times deals with memory and thinking issues. When they begin to pile up, we need to really look at the reasons behind this.
Memory loss happens as we age naturally, not all at once, little by little and most resources tell us that memory loss is not always a sign of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. It can have many other causes, some of which are reversible or treatable.
Awareness is the first step. It’s important to know if these changes are signs of something other than normal aging.
According to the World Health Organization, however, Worldwide, there are around 55 million people who have dementia, with over 60% living in low- and middle-income countries. As the proportion of older people in the population is increasing in nearly every country, this number is expected to rise to 78 million in 2030 and 139 million in 2050.
Those are staggering facts!
Early signs of dementia from the researchers at AARP!
- Difficulty with everyday tasks…..
- Repetition. Asking a question over and over or telling the same story about a recent event multiple times…
- Communication problems
- Getting lost
- Personality changes
- Confusion about time and place
- Misplacing things
- Troubling behavior
- Loss of interest
- Forgetting old memories – (one of the first signs of memory loss)
If you know of someone who is experiencing these various issues, it would be good to talk with a medical professional. There are several ways they can test to see if your memory loss is related to dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease.
For further information, you may call the Council on Aging, at 318-371-3056!