The question that I have been confronted by this week is how I know if memory slips are normal for my age or signs of memory loss. This question is central to boomers as they approach aging. As you age you expect to change. You can’t run as fast. You can’t burn the candle at both ends as long as you used to. On the other hand, you know more, you are better at solving problems. Your brain will shrink (starts at 20 so not a big deal). Is it any wonder that you have small changes in the efficiency of your memory – senior moments?

Mental and memory skills show up in predictable ways as we age but we do not normally lose our memory. Normal aging is associated with slower thinking and inefficient multi-tasking – working memory. This is the memory system that allows you to do mental arithmetic, remember to take your wallet with you, monitor whether you just took your medications or turned down the thermostat. This and sluggish word finding are normal as we age and changes probably start in your 40s.

When I perform a memory assessment, I look for a number of changes that indicate that more is going on than normal aging. Among the things that I ask are:

Are you repetitive?
Do you have trouble remembering recent conversations?
Do you have trouble remembering appointments?
Do you frequently misplace objects?
Do you have trouble managing your medications?
Do you have trouble discussing current events or areas of interest?
Do you have trouble following a complex train of thought?
Do you have trouble performing tasks that require many steps (e.g., balancing a
checkbook, cooking a meal)?
Do you have trouble doing calculations?
Do you show uncharacteristic disregard for rules of social conduct?
Do you have trouble finding your way around familiar or unfamiliar places?
Do you have increasing difficulty finding words to express what you want to say?
Do you have changes in personality?
Are you more passive and less responsive?
Does a family member express concerns?
Are you worried about your memory?

If you or someone who knows you well expresses several (more than two) of these concerns, the changes may be more than simple aging. There are a myriad of possible causes that need to be explored by means of a thorough memory evaluation. There is treatment if you confront changes early. Your wellness program should include proactive memory assessment as well as routine medical tests. Your life plan should include at the very least following the one minute rule (anything given less than one minute of thought will fade from your memory), exercise, eat predominantly a “Mediterranean diet”, be social, and stay engaged with your interests and passions.