Do you worry that your memory isn’t what it used to be? Forget what you went upstairs for, or frequently fail to put a name to a face?
A string of moments such as this can make many fear the worst – that it’s the beginning of the slow decline into the horror of dementia.
In fact, most cases of absent-mindedness are normal, according to Barry Gordon, a professor of neurology and cognitive science at Johns Hopkins University in the U.S. and a world renowned expert on memory.
‘We seem to have unrealistically high expectations for our memory. Most of us don’t complain about waning strength or appetite, but the first time we forget the name of an acquaintance, we assume we may have Alzheimer’s disease,’ he previously told the Mail.
‘If you have a busy life, you have more opportunities to forget – and more opportunities to blame your memory.’
In general, the more severe your worries about issues with your memory, the less likely you actually have a serious problem, according to Professor Gordon.
‘The typical Alzheimer’s patient generally does not worry about their memory — their friends and family do.’
This is because Alzheimer’s-related damage to the brain frequently affects areas that impair your knowledge of your own abilities.
This week it was reported that scientists have developed a simple blood test that GPs could use to identify people with early Alzheimer’s. The researchers at Lund University in Sweden showed that the test, which measures levels of tau and beta amyloid proteins that build up in the brain and are linked to the condition, was 90 per cent accurate in identifying early cases.
It may be some years before this is rolled out widely.
But to check the state of your memory, you can use the unique checklist below created by Professor Gordon.
After the age of 75, and particularly after 80, the risk of Alzheimer’s is much higher — up to 40 per cent of people will develop it
Barry Gordon, a professor of neurology and cognitive science, came up with this memory checklist
It is designed to highlight and help explain some of the warning signs of memory problems — and when you may need to see a doctor.
You MUST complete the checklist with someone who knows you well (for example, your spouse, a good friend or close relative), because how they rate your memory is crucial.
‘In general, I give far more weight to the impressions of memory loss from a spouse or close friend than from the person being rated,’ said Professor Gordon.
If your spouse’s or friend’s evaluation suggests you should see a doctor, you really should. For each question, both you and your spouse/friend should circle the most appropriate answer.
For some questions, there will be specific advice for each of you; for others, the same findings/advice will apply to both of you.
Follow the specific advice where it’s given. The answers to other questions will help create a picture of the problem, if there is one. So take the below quiz and find out if you might need help.
(Note, these checklists are not a substitute for a doctor’s opinion.)
