Have you ever walked into a room to pick something and had to wait a minute or two to remember what exactly you had gone in to get? Many retired folks deal with experiences like this a lot, such that one may be wondering whether it is the regular once in a while forgetfulness that everyone experiences, or it is a more serious health issue like dementia or alzheimer’s disease.
It helps to know the signs of both age related forgetfulness and memory problems.
As one approaches the age of retirement, it is needful to have routine checkups to ensure that one is in optimal health condition and also to catch any health issue that may arise early.
Some of the signs of age triggered forgetfulness are: frequently misplacing things, forgetting conversations and events, finding it hard to remember the names of people you just met, getting distracted easily, or not remembering specific details.
While some the signs of dementia are: getting lost in familiar places, becoming confused and disoriented, not caring adequately for one’s self, difficulty in communicating, or difficulty in motor functions and body coordination.
However, there are things we can do as we approach the age of retirement to keep our memory sharp. Some of these are:
- Continous learning
- Consuming more of fish with omega-3 than red meat
- Reducing sugar intake
- Getting enough sleep
- Getting rid of distractions
- Staying away from alcohol
- Eliminating stress
- Engaging in fun activities with friends
- Challenging yourself mentally
Forgetfulness in old age can be helped by engaging in tips like following a routine, planning tasks, having a to do list, and keeping things like keys, phones and glasses in the same place.
