Forgetfulness, is it a symptom of memory loss?

Forgetfulness, is it a symptom of memory loss? Are you someone who experiences this problem? "Why was my memory so good before, and now it's something unknown? Forgetting things, doubting if it's Alzheimer's disease." How can we know if it's memory loss or not? "When we were young, we could do many things at the same time without any problems, but as we get older, we need to finish one task before starting another." Has our brain’s ability declined? Forgetfulness is often found as we age, but in today's society, people tend to do multiple tasks at the same time, such as typing while answering the phone. Our brain has the ability to multitask, but when we experience fatigue from working non-stop for hours and days, it can affect our performance. Forgetfulness, also known as poor concentration, can be improved by giving our brain enough rest. For seniors, their brain has been working for many years, so it can be affected by age-related decline. Therefore, doing multiple tasks at the same time can be more challenging, and requires more effort. It's necessary to adjust our work methods by completing tasks one at a time, in order to improve our performance. The global and Thai societies are transitioning into societies of elderly people, with the average age of Thai women being 85 years old and men being 83 years old. With this aging population, memory problems have become another issue for the elderly. Many people try to improve their memory through activities such as meditation, playing games, or memory-enhancing activities, which are becoming increasingly popular. Thai culture has a saying, "Forget the past, focus on the present," which may be suitable for this age group if they need to engage in multiple activities. However, even simple tasks may only be completed successfully due to a decrease in brain function, which is known as mild cognitive impairment. There is no official Thai translation for this term, but if it is called forgetfulness, it will be easier to understand. As people age, this condition becomes more common. A survey found that out of 100 people with forgetfulness, 20-25 of them would develop Alzheimer's disease, which is a high number. If a child, spouse, or partner notices that their loved one has become more forgetful, repeats questions, gets lost while driving, has mood swings, becomes easily angered, is restless at night, likes to search or destroy things, or experiences nerve problems or confusion, they should seek the advice of a neurological expert to test their memory, check their blood, and examine their brain to find the cause. The 4 frequently found types of memory loss are: 1. Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common, initially presents with forgetfulness of recent events, but long-term memory remains normal. The patient tends to repeat questions, has problems with calculations, gives incorrect change, and miscounts. Usually, relatives do not notice these symptoms because they think they are normal for older people. However, over time, symptoms become more severe, with more forgetfulness such as leaving water or lights on, erratic behavior, daytime sleepiness, waking up at night, having arguments with neighbors, or worrying about burglars. If diagnosed by a doctor, the patient will be treated with medication and behavioral changes. If the symptoms are severe enough to affect daily life, close care is needed because self-help becomes difficult. 2. Memory loss from cerebral vascular disease is the second most common. People who have chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease for many years, may eventually become indifferent, speak less, and have difficulty walking, urinating, or defecating, which then leads to seeking medical attention. After undergoing a brain computer examination, if multiple cerebral blood vessels are found to be blocked, doctors will diagnose it as memory loss from cerebral vascular disease, which requires taking blood clotting medications and memory enhancing drugs. Some patients also need psychiatric treatment, along with controlling their chronic illnesses. This will improve their memory. 3. Memory loss from Parkinson's disease is caused by damage to the nerve cells in the brain, which gradually worsens over time, causing difficulty with movement, muscle stiffness, and tremors. Patients may also have cognitive symptoms, such as memory loss, difficulty paying attention, and decreased ability to make decisions. This type of memory loss is treated with medication, but some patients may require surgery in severe cases. 4. Memory impairment disease caused by an enlarged ventricle in the brain. Symptoms include difficulty walking, urinary incontinence, and later, memory loss. Doctors will perform a brain computer scan and if they find that the enlarged ventricle is abnormal, they may recommend surgery to insert a tube to drain the fluid in the brain which can improve symptoms. Therefore, if someone close to you begins to experience forgetfulness and is unsure if it is memory impairment disease, it is recommended to consult a neurologist for memory tests, blood tests, and brain scans. If there is a family history of Alzheimer's disease or concern about inheriting a genetic type of memory disease, genetic testing for abnormalities and specialized brain scans such as a PET scan can be done. There are many ways to train memory, but if it follows a Buddhist path, it is recommended to recite mantras before bedtime every night, or listen to instrumental music to relax.