From novels to films, from the jokes of the modern age to the anecdotes and folklore of old, the stereotype of the old man who forgets everything is a commonplace. Used to create humour or, conversely, to illustrate the wisdom of someone who forgets things, the truth that memory begins to decline with age is undeniable.
Many old people worry that they find it much harder to learn new things. Although they mask this by blaming it on changes in technology or declining skills, they are concerned about it, as are those around them in the family and community.
Talking about memory in relation to old age is a very complicated business, because the mechanisms by which the human brain retains information are not yet fully understood. It is therefore possible that an elderly person who cannot remember things very easily may have had this problem all their life. Therefore, the assessment of memory impairment can only be made in comparison with the previous performance of the same person.
As we have already said, loss of memory acuity is a normal phenomenon, and it is therefore quite difficult to determine which aspects are the result of old age and which should give us pause for thought. Below is a brief comparative table:
| normal | patologic |
|---|---|
| forgets his keys from time to time, but finds them again | always loses their keys, sometimes permanently |
| misses a monthly payment | constantly forgets to pay bills |
| temporarily forgets what day it is | temporarily forgets what day it is |
| does not remember a word | cannot participate in conversation |
We could give countless such examples, but we believe that the simple comparison of the two columns has enlightened you to the idea we want to express.
Judging by signs and symptoms like those mentioned above, you will know when it is time to see your doctor. It is good to have such a consultation as early as possible, because, unfortunately, memory loss is associated with many household accidents, some with extremely serious consequences. It’s also complicated to look after someone who is having trouble when they need to take a medication or pass on a message.
Memory loss can be improved by treatment. But don’t be fooled by adverts of smiling old people who become real human computers because they take nutritional supplements with magical powers. The truth imposed by the years of experience of the doctors at the Idris centre shows that reality is somewhat more nuanced and that a drug regimen for treating memory loss should be put together exclusively by specialists. It is also up to them to assess the reasons for the memory loss, which is an important point for treating possible psychiatric pathologies.
