FORGETFULNESS AND AGING: WHAT'S NORMAL

Time affects your body, as well as your brain. As we age, connections between brain cells that make and pull up memories change. The hormones and proteins that do upkeep in our brains do not work as well. It is good to know the difference between typical forgetfulness and something you probably should mention to your doctor. This is taken entirely from a slideshow called Forgetfulness and Aging: What's Normal found on WebMD. TYPICAL: You forget to meet up with a friend but remember later on. You recall that wedding last year, but you're a little hazy on who was there. You had a great call with Henry last week, but what does he do for work again? WARNING: You miss appts. left and right. You ask friends and family for details over and over again. You forget about events you went to recently or conversations you just had. TYPICAL: You make a mistake balancing your checkbook once in a while. You forget to pay a bill here and there. Or you just added 3 tablespoons instead of teaspoons. WARNING: It's harder to focus, make a plan, and solve problems. Numbers feel like a foreign language, making it tough to follow a recipe or make sense of your household budget. TYPICAL: You need help setting the clock on the microwave or record your favorite show, You blank for a minute on whether a straight beats a flush in poker. WARNING: You can't work your stove. You forget the rules of games you've played or watched for decades. TYPICAL: You check your pockets, the kitchen table, your car, you go back over all your steps before, "Ah, My Keys!" WARNING: You put things in odd places, like your phone ends up in the freezer, You can't remember even what steps to retrace, or you blame someone for stealing things. TYPICAL: Once in a while you have to stop and think about what day it is, bit it comes to you, even if it takes a bit. WARNING: The whole idea of time is confusing. You get what's happening now, but trying to think about something that happened last week or is coming up tomorrow leaves you feeling lost. TYPICAL: You stroll into the kitchen and can't for the life of you remember why. You forget the occasional street name when giving directions. It might take a beat or two, but you remember how to get to familiar places. WARNING: You can't find your way home or get lost or feel confused in places you know well. TYPICAL: You forget the name of something. It's on the tip of your tongue, but you can't reel it in. WARNING: You call things by the wrong name, somethings really odd ones "spoon" might come out "bed". You stop in the middle of a sentence and have no idea what you were saying. You have a hard time following conversations. TYPICAL: The mix of work, family, and social demands leaves you wiped out and craving down time, even from things you like. WARNING: You can't keep up with sports teams you normally follow. You try to get out of spending time with people to hide the problems you're having. TYPICAL: You swear you almost have it, it's right there, but...gahh! You just spaced on your friend's name. Or you just called your grandson by your son's name. WARNING: You actually can't remember your son's name. TYPICAL: You rush out of the house without brushing your teeth. Or, worse, zipping your fly. WARNING: It's not just that you don't remember to do things, you don't recall how. You're halfway through getting dressed and find yourself confused. TYPICAL: You're concerned about your memory, but your family's not. You remember when you forget things and what that moment feels like. WARNING: Your family's worried about you, but you don't know what they're talking about. You're not aware that it's happening.