Our bodies go through many changes as we age, and through it all, our ability to remember may falter. Blood flow to the brain may decrease over time, which makes retrieving memories a bit more challenging the older we get. However, mild cases of age-related memory loss are not abnormal and can be minimized through a healthier lifestyle.

Knowing more about age-related memory loss can also prevent the need for Alzheimer's and dementia care as you move into your golden years. So, exactly what is normal and what isn’t when it comes to age-related memory loss? 

What’s Normal

Occasional forgetfulness can be considered a normal occurrence among older people. Forgetting where you last placed your glasses, only to find them on top of your head, and forgetting the names of some people are all signs of age-related memory loss.

As long as they occur sparingly, these lapses in memory should not be cause for alarm. Usually, older people recover from these slight episodes of memory loss within minutes.

What’s Not Normal

The human body can produce new brain cells, regardless of how old we get. As such, severe memory loss is not a normal part of aging. Signs that a person’s memory loss is abnormal become apparent when they cannot remember how to do routine tasks, like paying bills or maintaining personal hygiene. 

Other telltale signs include incoherent speech, repeating the same stories in a conversation, and forgetting directions to places they’ve been to numerous times. Seniors with these issues may need dementia care services.

Getting older doesn’t mean your mental faculties need to slow down. The Alzheimer's  and dementia care professionals at GrandeVille Senior Living Community are here to provide seniors with the love and attention they deserve. Call (585) 621-6160 and learn more about how they can improve a patient’s quality of life. You can also learn more about and the wonderful work they do for their patients by visiting their website.