Where is the stage of dangerous forgetfulness suspected of dementia?



Forgetfulness can happen to anyone, such as 'I forgot where I put my cell phone or keys' or 'I forgot yesterday's dinner'. However, we sometimes wonder if this forgetfulness is normal or a sign of dementia.

Oliver Baumann and Cindy Jones of Bond University explain these memory issues.

How much memory loss is normal with aging?
https://theconversation.com/how-much-memory-loss-is-normal-with-ageing-193217

The human memory system is fundamentally forgetful to some extent. If you continue to retain your memory, not only will your metabolism slow down, but it will also slow down your ability to recall necessary memories, or you may not be able to recall them in the first place.

However, since the human brain automatically determines which memory to retain, social information such as the latest news is easily retained, while abstract information such as numbers is difficult to retain. ``A little forgetfulness is a normal reaction,'' say Baumann and colleagues.

The stage where forgetfulness becomes a problem is when forgetfulness begins to affect daily life. For example, Mr. Baumann and others say that when driving, if you forget ``why you are driving'' or ``where is your destination?'' I point out that there is.



It is called '

mild cognitive impairment ' between the increase in forgetfulness with aging and dementia.

Previous studies have reported that people with mild cognitive impairment have an increased risk of developing dementia about 3 to 5 times higher than normal, and about 10 to 15% of people with mild cognitive impairment have It has been investigated to cause dementia.

In addition, it is believed that people with mild cognitive impairment gradually decline in memory, language, thinking, and decision-making ability. must be erected.

A marked increase in the chance of getting lost is thought to be a symptom of Alzheimer's disease , a form of dementia. Studies using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have shown that the areas that support memory related to spatial cognition are the first to be affected by Alzheimer's disease.



To detect dementia as early as possible, Baumann et al. devised a 5-minute test that judges the scenery presented and remembered instead of directly measuring the ability to find directions. This test was effective in measuring the ability to find directions in healthy young people. Therefore, we are currently considering the effectiveness of the test in the elderly.

Not all daily forgetfulness is associated with aging or dementia, and is often caused by fatigue, anxiety, and inattentiveness, and should not cause undue concern. However, if forgetfulness becomes noticeable, it is recommended to see a doctor.

Although no treatment for Alzheimer's disease has been established at this stage, it is said that early detection of Alzheimer's disease will enable planning for the future and consideration of lifestyles that suit individual patients.

in Science, Posted by log1r_ut