Memory loss with aging: Am I losing it?
What are normal memory changes as we age? Perceptual abilities can affect your ability to think Attention and concentration decline with age Divided attention requires either the processing of two or more sources of information or doing two things at the same time. For example, listening to your spouse while still trying to listen to the television divides our attention. Data suggests older adults are less able to divide their attention than younger adults, especially when the demands for attention are high. Task-switching requires a person to switch back and forth between two tasks, such as scanning the visual landscape and then a car’s dashboard controls. Older adults perform task-switching slower than younger adults. Older adults also have more difficulty with activities requiring active manipulation, reorganization or integration of information in their current focus of attention, such as adding large numbers in their heads. Speed of thinking also changes with age. Older adults tend to process information slower than younger adults. Sustained attention used for tasks, such as reading a book, is generally not impaired in older adults. Memory changes occur with aging Episodic memory is also affected by the level of information storage or consolidation. Taking a minute to really pay attention to where you are leaving your keys or your car on a particular day, and nearby landmarks, can be very helpful. Another option is to always park your car and put your keys in the same place. Finally, episodic memory is impacted by the ability to retrieve stored information. It gets harder to recall information without hints or cues as we age. For example, if you don’t write a note that the plumber has called, you might not remember to tell your partner. If your spouse asks, “Did the plumber call?” it’s much easier to remember the conversation you had with the plumber. Other types of memory Autobiographical memory, that is, memory of one’s personal past, is largely preserved with age, though the fine details of those experiences may fade. Interestingly, people are often best at recalling both recent information and events between the ages of 15 and 25, perhaps because of the high emotionality of memories during the late teen and young adult years. Procedural memory for skills, such as playing the piano or riding a bike, once well learned, tend to be retained throughout life. Older adults also tend to use good compensation techniques to maintain effective prospective memory, which is remembering to do things in the future, such as paying bills on time or going to an appointment. External aids, such as medication boxes, calendars and appointment books can help. Older adults are generally good at remembering small events, though they might not remember where or when something happened or was heard. It is also common to second-guess whether something actually happened or if you just thought about it. For example, “Did I take my medication, or did I just think about taking it?” Older adults and cognitive skills In decision-making, older adults tend to rely more on prior knowledge and less on new information when making decisions, compared with younger people. They also may rely more on expert opinion than do younger adults. Executive functioning — the ability to plan, organize, coordinate, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of non-routine activities — can become more difficult with age. The big question There are medical conditions that may lead to treatable causes of memory loss. If you have doubts, talk to your doctor. Special psychometric testing can be done to determine the difference. I am available on referral to do this type of testing. If you are interested in learning more about our mental health services, please contact us. In Dr. Julie E. Redner’s next post, learn about the signs and symptoms of dementia, at what age it begins, how it is diagnosed, potential risk factors, and what steps to take if symptoms are present. |