How many times this week have you forgotten your keys? Many people do. Did you know that 1 in every 5 people ( 20 percent) who are over 65 years old suffer from some sort of memory and thinking problems?
The official title for mild memory and thinking issues is “mild cognitive impairment” or MCI, but most of us just call it ‘getting up there in age.’ Basically, MCI refers to mild thinking and memory problems that do not interfere with our daily activities. Mild forgetfulness may be noticed by those around us, but the problems are generally mild enough to not interfere with independence and daily activities.
According to an article on Mild Cognitive Impairment, published in Science Daily online, a few general symptoms of MCI are:
- difficulty learning and retrieving new information
- hard time making decisions and solving issues
- not remembering conversations and events
Thankfully, only 5-10 percent of those with MCI later concoct dementia. Further, according to the same article, a Mayo Clinic Study of Aging report that was published in 2012 in the Medical Journal of the American Academy of Neurology, called Neurology, stated that MCI appears to affect men and those with only a high school education more often than women and those with a higher education.
Although there is no cure for MCI, there are things that we can do to help slow memory issues. According to another article published in Science Daily online, here are a few ideas:
Talk to your Doctor
Don’t be shy. Let your doctor know if you have memory issues because there are tests that can discern the root causes of the problems in order to help you. Also, make sure your medical practitioner is aware of all of your medications, as they can interfere with one another, thus causing some memory issues.
Keep Physically and Mentally Fit
This area is a must. The more the brain and body muscles are used by aerobic and mental activities, the stronger the body can become. FOR MORE TIPS, CLICK HERE.
But, the key is to relax. Again, only 5-10% of those suffering from MCI generally advance to dementia. Studies say that we will more likely die from something else first. Isn’t that a nice thought??? Please share with us any tips that you may have learned for dealing with memory issues. We would be thrilled to hear from you.