CHECK-UP: Occasional memory lapses are normal, but worry when you forget familiar places or tasks, writes Marion Kerr.
My elderly uncle, who is in his late 70s, has always been mentally very sharp. But I've noticed recently that his memory seems to be deteriorating.
Is memory loss just a natural part of getting older or should I be worried that it is signalling a more serious problem?
Mild forgetfulness is part of the normal ageing process.
As we get older, most of us will notice that we forget where we left our keys, find ourselves in a room and cannot remember what we went in there for.
Or we could meet an acquaintance and not be able to remember their name. It has been estimated that about 20 per cent of those over 70 will be affected by mild memory problems.
However, memory difficulties are considered serious when they start to affect the ability to carry out familiar activities of daily living.
If your uncle occasionally forgets names or where he left his glasses then it's probably not a serious problem.
However, if he is forgetting how to perform familiar tasks or loses his way when in a familiar locality then he may have a more serious problem.
Memory loss can be associated with a wide range of conditions such as depression, dementia (including Alzheimer's disease), stroke, head injury, alcohol abuse or can be the side effect of certain medications.
I would suggest that if his memory problems are more serious than just mild forgetfulness then you need to arrange for him to be medically assessed.
As a person experiencing memory difficulties may not be fully aware of their memory difficulties, it is often helpful if a family member accompanies them to their appointment to assist the medical team in establishing the extent of the memory loss.
I've actually made an appointment for my uncle to see a geriatrician. What sort of information will the doctor want?
It is important that you outline your concerns regarding your uncle's forgetfulness.
The doctor will want to know about any changes in memory, behaviour or, indeed, in personality.
He will need to know what medication your uncle is on and whether he is taking it regularly and correctly.
He will also need to know if there is a history of alcohol abuse, depression, head trauma or any other neurological conditions such as a previous stroke.
The medical team will rule out any other potential causes for your uncle's memory loss before a definite diagnosis of dementia will be made.