Memory Loss

There is a real, qualitative distinction between the sort of memory loss that accompanies normal aging and that which comes as a symptom of one of several diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or Huntington's. While these neurodegenerative diseases, along with lingering effects of mild-to-major concussions, indicate a progressive cognitive deterioration, we should keep in mind that memory loss is common among almost all individuals as we grow older, and not be alarmed when certain memories begin to fade.

It should come as no surprise that the field of memory has spawned a wide selection of medical studies. Flip through almost any current journal and you're sure to find at least one article on memory loss. Some such studies have revealed interesting trends in both cross-sectional and longitudinal terms. First, our ability to encode new memories of events or facts shows a marked decline as we age, as does what's known in cognitive psychology as our "working memory." Also, normal aging also sees a loss of semantic memory and short-term memory. In addition, older adults encounter more trouble remembering the source of specific information, even when they are able to remember the information itself. This signals a potential difficulty in our ability, as we age, to bind series of information together.

This said, there is also ample evidence that certain daily routines, along with some herbal products, are able to slow the natural course of memory loss. Just as they are used by students struggling to keep up with exams, some puzzles and mental activities can serve as a kind of "memory exercise" for aging adults. The same goes for clinically-proven brain enhancers, which work just as effectively for older men and women as they do for those on college campuses. Simply put, memory loss is a fact of life. But there's no reason we have to take that fact lying down.