Memory loss and aging...what's normal, what's incipient Alzheimers?

[Stoid]

I just turned 44, and I have always prided myself on being articulate and verbally nimble.

However, in the last 2-3 years I find that often have to struggle to find a word, usually nouns. It bothers me how often I find myself resorting to things like “the go-uppy thing” when I wanted to say escalator. If I take a few moments and don’t panic, the word usually comes to me, but I need to search a lot more often than I used to. And I don’t have the rich and varied trove of words available to me instantaneously the way I used to. My day to day vocabulary seems to be shrinking. (From lack of use? The pernicious effects of email shorthand and Internet Newspeak?)

I know that as we age, we have more memory lapses, but this is getting on my nerves. Could it fall under the “normal” category, or should I be concerned? Does Alzheimers start this early? Are there exercises I can do to improve the situation? (Specifically verbally, I know of other exercises for mental stimulation in general)

stoid

[Duck_Duck_Goose]

Well, it isn’t just “losing words” here and there, it’s a whole constellation of symptoms that, added together, equal “Alzheimers”.

Google, “early warning symptoms alzheimers”.

http://www.dailyherald.com/special/alzheimers/2001/story9.asp

This simple checklist was developed by the Alzheimer’s Association to help uncover early warning signs of Alzheimer¹s disease. If you make several check marks, the individual with symptoms should see a physician for a complete exam.

1. Recent Memory Loss Affecting Job Skills
   It’s normal to occasionally forget assignments, names and phone numbers. Those with Alzheimer’s disease may forget things more often and not remember them later.

2. Difficulty Performing Familiar Tasks
   Busy people can be so distracted from time to time that they may leave the carrots on the stove and only remember to serve them at the end of the meal. People with Alzheimer’s disease could prepare a meal and not only forget to serve it, but also forget they made it.

3. Problems With Language
   Everyone has trouble finding the right word at times. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may forget simple words or substitute inappropriate ones, making sentences incomprehensible.

4. Disorientation of Time and Place
   People with Alzheimer’s disease may become lost on their own street, not knowing where they are, how they got there or how to get back home.

5. Poor or Decreased Judgement
   People with Alzheimer’s disease may dress inappropriately wearing several shirts or blouses, or they could forget entirely a child placed in their care.

6. Problems With Abstract Thinking
   Balancing a checkbook may be disconcerting when the task is more complex than usual. Someone with Alzheimer’s disease could forget what the numbers are and what needs to be done with them.

7. Misplacing Things
   Anyone can temporarily misplace things. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may place them in inappropriate places: an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.

8. Changes In Mood Or Behavior
   Everyone becomes sad and moody at times. People with Alzheimer’s disease may exhibit rapid mood swings–from calm to tears to anger–for no apparent reason.

9. Changes In Personality
   A person with Alzheimer’s disease can change dramatically, becoming extremely confused, suspicious or fearful.

10. Loss of Initiative
    It’s normal to tire of housework, social obligations and business activities. But people with Alzheimer’s disease may become very passive and require cues and prompting to become involved.

I’m 47 and I constantly refer to “wiener picker-uppers” instead of “tongs”, and nobody at this end is eyeballing me critically for possible Alzheimers.

You’re fine.

[Qadgop_the_Mercotan]

Forgetting where you left your keys is not Alzheimer’s.

Forgetting what keys in general are for and how they function could be.

[alice_in_wonderland]

Stoid, I believe that as women approach menopause, a certain amount of memory loss is normal.

Check out this site for some more info.

I think 44 might be a tad young to be starting menopause, but I wouldn’t rule it out. My mom was pretty much done with “all that nonsense” as she like to refer to it as, by about age 47 or 48.

Al.

[OliverTwistofLime]

I notice that in the past 2 years, I am longer do well with Jeopardy as I can not bring the answer out of my brains’ hard drive. The RECAll part of my brain is shot; yet numbers and multiple choice are as good as they were 20 years ago. From what I understand, Numbers and Multiple choice is handled by a different part of the brain.

Abstract thinking as the modes and button presses on a watch to set the date and time and whatnot has also become more difficult. Even though I am an MD, it still is very bothersome and of concern even though my colleagues reassure me that this is NOT Altzheimers.

[OliverTwistofLime]

Please insert NO longer instead of AM longer in the above comment I wrote.

[Brynda]

First, I don’t think you don’t have anything to worry about. 44 is very young for Alzheimers (although it is not unheard of, but it occurs that early almost exclusively in those with a strong family history of early dementia). Also, the things you list sound like normal aging. However, the symptoms listed above by various posters are of late-stage Alzheimers, not early symptoms. Earlier symptoms are more subtle and you would really need testing by a qualified neuropsychologist to detect them.

One thing I would consider is pseudodementia, which is memory problems/cognitive deficits attributable to depression. If cueing helps you remember things, that is one big clue that it is normal memory loss or pseudodementia. Those with Alzheimers don’t benefit from cues.

IMHO, you shouldn’t worry about this, but if you are, I would recommend seeing a psychologist or preferably a neuropsychologist.