Cognitive Aging Is Inevitable: Healthy Lifestyles, Daily Routines Can Help Stem Forgetfulness
Nearly everyone has experienced the unsettling feeling of entering a room and wondering, “why did I come in here?” It may happen several times a week to someone in their twenties. But it may happen two or three times a day to someone in their seventies.
Such forgetfulness is a normal part of the aging process, researchers say. The room example is one of several well-established experiences in which mild memory loss becomes apparent in older individuals.
Recognizing the signs of memory slips early can help individuals track of their symptoms over time. Common signs of normal cognitive aging that pharmacists may want to advise patients on include:
- Difficulty recalling names.
- Slower reaction time.
- Forgetting why you entered a room.
- Inability to multitask.
Such indicators often occur gradually, and family members or close acquaintance are usually best equipped to first spot declines. It’s also important to understand one’s cognitive baseline, or what is “normal” for that individual.
People can begin to notice normal, age-related cognitive changes in themselves as early as their late 40s or early 50s, depending how perceptive they are. At whatever age, strategies to circumvent memory problems include sticking to clear routines, taking notes and keeping a detailed calendar.
