Can’t find your phone or keys? Forgot the name of someone you bumped into on your walk? Memory lapses can be common at any age but become increasingly prevalent as people grow older. How can you know when forgetfulness signals a more serious issue?

June – Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month ‒ is a good time to review what’s typical, what’s not and when to seek medical advice.

Alzheimer’s Disease vs. Dementia

The Alzheimer’s Association founded Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month to encourage conversations about brain health and dementia. The National Institutes of Health defines dementia as the loss of cognitive functioning – thinking, remembering and reasoning – to the extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities.

Dementia is caused by specific diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, which accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases. However, other diseases cause dementia as well, such as vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies.

Each disease damages brain cells in particular parts of the brain, impacting the symptoms a person exhibits.

Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s

Most people with Alzheimer’s are aged 65 or older, making age the biggest risk factor for developing the disease. However, Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging.

According to the National Institute on Aging, about 1 in 13 people aged 65 to 84 and 1 in 3 people aged 85 and older have Alzheimer’s.

A family history of Alzheimer’s puts you at greater risk, as do medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, hearing loss, depression, mild cognitive impairment and traumatic brain injury.

Lifestyle choices are the most powerful way to reduce risk. These include:

• Managing chronic issues such as high blood pressure
• Being physically active
• Eating healthy
• Getting adequate sleep
• Connecting with others
• Engaging in mentally stimulating activities
• Avoiding smoking
• Not misusing alcohol

When to Be Concerned

It’s not always clear when a symptom can be chalked up to normal aging and when it points to a more serious problem.

The Alzheimer’s Association identifies 10 early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dementia and how to distinguish them from the normal effects of aging.

For example, a warning sign could be forgetting recently learned information, while a typical age-related change might be sometimes forgetting names or appointments but remembering them later.

See this helpful form to jot down your concerns or help a friend or family member.

When in doubt, seek medical advice.

Don’t Avoid the Doctor

Avoiding the doctor if you suspect you have dementia is not a wise choice. Even though there is no cure, a diagnosis opens the door to treatment options and medications that could help you function better and delay the disease’s progression.

There is no single way to diagnose dementia. Providers use a variety of diagnostic tools combined with assessments, exams, brain imaging, lab tests and more.

A good place to start is with your primary care provider, who can refer you to specialists, if needed.

Looking for a Provider?

If you are looking for a primary care provider, Aultman Medical Group Primary Care has many providers ready to take care of you and your family. Many of our offices are accepting new patients – and more than likely, we have a location in your community.

Visit aultman.org/NewDoc to find a provider in your area who is accepting new patients, or call the new patient hotline at 330-433-1264 for assistance with scheduling your appointment.

Sources:
Alzheimer’s Association
National Institutes of Health
National Library of Medicine