Early dementia or just part of aging

https://www.sciencealert.com/the-4-rarer-kinds-of-dementia-most-people-dont-know-exist

@slarson14 exactly what my excellent hearing doc says.

I’m forgetting a second later what I was going to do. Is this typical getting older stuff or should I look for help from my doctor. I took memory tests at my annual physical and fail some and then pass them.

@stsopoci Very likely it is age-related, but it also means a loss of 'function' in operational memory. You should, even at age 85-95, be able to read aloud a new phone number and then press those numbers on the handset in the correct order three short seconds later.

There is such a thing as a 'busy brain' where it is lost too much time during the day in fleeting thoughts, problems, desires, news bits, little momentary chores..stuff not worth retaining, so you dump it....and then when you go to concentrate on something you need to understand....AND...to retain for at least an hour, it just ain't gonna happen.

The human brain loses ground in vascularization, blood supply, and in capacity as a result as we age. You may, not saying you are, but you may be well inside that camp by now, so...yup...it's normal, natural aging.

I just went on YouTube and did a search for 'seniors, how to improve memory' and found many example videos, but I selected this one. I have not listened to it, don't know the host/narrator....so if it's a bust, please just use it as an example of how you can do your own search and listen to several videos by people who claim to offer help with memory:

You should have this conversation with your doctor. Personally, I think that your anxiety could be a contributing factor but you don't need any armchair diagnosis.

Have you asked your primary to have some basic testing for a baseline to get insight into your current state? I realize i am an oddball in that I have used testing in my career extensively - so i am both a believer and comfortable with testing. But I also realize not everyone is. If there is one thing i am sure of, it is there will never be one truth - one answer - one path.

I also am 76 and have had tests to tell me what indicators of existing pathology may exist in blood or films, what genetics reveal in terms of likelihood and most importantly to me, how I am functioning intellectually because of (or in spite of) those markers. The neuropsych testing to me is what I pay attention to. I am classified in two batteries of tests conducted two years apart as having mild cognizant impairment - but of unknown etiology (a story for another time).

Like many, I have issues with word retrieval. I am increasingly of the opinion that it falls into the ‘getting old is not for the weak’ category more than the ‘oh shoot I have Alzheimer’s ‘ category. I also experience train of thought hiccups (what did I come in here for ).

So even with my extensive family history and the presence of those dreaded markers, the big bad wolf remains on the other side of the door.

I am doing what makes sense to me. I try to learn new complex things - like a new language or crocheting - in order to lay down neuronal pathways that might provide a new route when some existing pathways are blocked due to amyloid or tau. I think puzzles are fun but i don't think they represent new learning. But I will grant you It is tough to identify meaningful opportunity to learn.

So that is my weird path with this condition. I hope it is helpful

@pb50 - how did you find the neuropsych testing (I think this is what you were referring to) to get insight on your current state when you first went through it? Interested to know things such as was it friendly, scary, easy, hard, encouraging, depressing?

I asked my neurologist to refer me to someone and he was willing to do so.

It was about four hours with a break in the middle the first time and three hours two years later. Some tests are Memory focused- they read a brief story and then ask about little details. Another is saying repeat the name of every animal you can think of can think of that starts with the letter “T” (or some other letter they may use) another is drawing a copy of an object they show you. Really nothing is like an IQ test. But each action is timed. You get the idea.
Nothing to get worked up about.
I didn't feel emotional at all. I am really awful at the drawing stuff - could only laugh when I learned my score on that. 🙂 it was a bit tiring but mot a big deal all in all. I hear
Some people feel anxious. To the extent i can influence that, I would say you have bigger things to worry about than some test. 🙂

But it will be your baseline and that may become important.

Hope that is helpful

I took the time to go to a doctor who gave me a short 30 item test. She asked me about my relatives who had Alzheimers and quickly sent me for blood work. The blood work determined I had scores that indicated Mild Cognitive Impairment (a less scary term for early Alzheimers in my mind). Maybe some people don't want to know. I did and am proactive regarding my health and future. Pretending it couldn't happen to me is a foolish pretense. I went on a light dose of Aricept for one year and then went back in to the same doctor. First I had an MRI and now I am getting a PET Scan to see if I am a candidate for Leqembi, an infusion that hopefully will clear out some of the amyloids in my brain. Five years ago it wasn't even available. I feel fortunate that at almost 80 years old I can look forward to a future watching grandchildren grow up. Good luck and please don't be afraid to investigate opportunities to better your future rather than pretend that there's nothing wrong.