Isn loss of memory normal with aging?
Whether memory decline is a normal part of aging is now recognized as a question requiring careful research. While some note less sharpness of memory as they age (e.g. “senior moments”), others at the same age retain remarkable memory function. A condition called mild cognitive impairment (MCI) involves increased forgetfulness but not other features of Alzheimer’s disease (such as difficulty finding words, disorientation, problems with planning, judgment and insight, depression, apathy and/or agitation). MCI may precede development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), though not everyone with MCI develops AD. Everyone forgets things occasionally, but those with Alzheimer’s disease forget things all the time and eventually can’t even remember what things are for. All experts now recognize that severe memory loss that interferes with day-to-day functioning is abnormal and a sign of serious illness.
