Aging: what are the first forgetfulness and when to be alarmed

Oversights and mental blackouts they are one of the most common signs of aging and also one of the signs that deserve the attention of relatives and comrades.

Even if, beyond the alarm, it is important to take into account some signals.

The first point that clarifies the information from the American Psychological Association is that certain omissions – such as losing keys or not remembering an address – can occur from the age of 65 and are not always due to a neurological condition, such as Alzheimer’s.

These situations are many related to physical and psychological conditions. Among them, the note from the Spanish site Semana lists the following:

– Anxiety

– Dehydration

– Depression

– Infections

– Side effects of some types of medicines

– Very poor nutrition

– Psychological stress

– Substance abuse

– Imbalances in the thyroid gland.

Many studies have shown that the brain is capable of learning throughout life. With the years, some cognitive abilities continue to improve and others decline.

In any case, in the event of repeated or very marked forgetfulness, the recommendation is to go to a trusted doctor for a complete review and also to a psychologist for a neuropsychological evaluation.

An example: semantic memory – the one linked to the memory of general concepts and facts – continues to improve. But other facts, such as what to do, diminish.

The National Institute on Aging points this out the alarm should sound when forgetfulness makes everyday life difficult. Which presents itself at first as the difficulty of following instructions, ignoring nearby places or people.

Even normal aging does not lead to drastic memory loss.

Tips to improve memory

The recommendations of American Psychological Association are the following.

– Participate in social activities.

– Carry out physical activities.

– Follow a diet with plenty of vegetables.

– Give importance to rest.