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A significant number of elderly individuals live with mild memory problems that are part of the normal aging process. Although many of these problems only mildly interfere with daily life, they may be troublesome to the person experiencing them.
Researchers have made progress in understanding the effects of aging on memory and continue to work toward treatments for age-associated memory problems.
• Introduction
• Diagnosis
• Progression
• Causes
• Care and Treatment Options
• Importance of Diagnostic Evaluation for Age Associated Memory Impairment
• Importance of Researchers to understanding Age Associated Memory Impairment
Introduction
Age Associated Memory Impairment is a common condition characterized by very mild symptoms of cognitive decline that occur as part of the normal aging process. Symptoms confirmed in objective tests include a general slowness in processing, storing and recalling new information, and a general decline in the ability to perform tasks related to cognitive functioning (such as, memory, concentration, and organizing activities). Subjective complaints from individuals with age associated memory impairment often include difficulties remembering names and words. Current understanding of age associated memory impairment indicates that this condition is the result of physiological changes in the aging brain and not a specific neurological disorder. Like every other organ of the body, the aging brain simply does not function quite as well as it used to.
Other designations for this condition include Age Related Cognitive Decline, Age Consistent Memory Impairment, and Late Life Forgetfulness.
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Diagnosis
Age Associated Memory Impairment is a condition confirmed when diagnostic evaluation shows decline in cognitive abilities relative to former level of functioning that are not accompanied by evidence of neurological illness or other medical causes. Upon psychometric testing, cognitive performance is within the range of normal for age, and the cognitive decline has no significant impact on the ability to carry out everyday activities in the work or home setting. A diagnostic evaluation for Age Associated Memory Impairment includes neurological examinations, mental status examinations, neuropsychological and psychiatric evaluations, physical examination including laboratory tests, and a review of the patient’s past medical history and medications that the patient is currently taking. An evaluation is complemented by clinical observations of the patient’s symptoms, their onset (sudden or gradual), presentation (how do symptoms occur), and progression of symptoms over time.
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Progression
Symptoms of Age Associated Memory Impairment occur very gradually as a result of the normal aging process. Impairment may increase with age, but does not exceed a normal range of functioning for a particular age group.
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Causes
Age Associated Memory Impairment is attributed to normal biological changes that occur as a person ages. In order to better understand this condition, researchers are studying these biological changes, as well as genetic and environmental factors that may have an impact on symptoms of Age Associated Memory Impairment.
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Care and Treatment Options
Maintaining present health. Even when an evaluation shows that a person's symptoms are merely signs of Age Associated Memory Impairment and not a more serious memory problem, the person is still left with the difficulty of living with the potentially bothersome problem of forgetting. Although there are no treatments of proven value currently available for symptoms of Age Associated Memory Impairment, there are memory management strategies that may help a person overcome some of the symptoms.
Planning for the future. Although the memory problems a person may experience because of this condition do not indicate that a person will develop a more serious impairment, there is always a benefit to planning for one's future healthcare and long-term care. Planning ahead and putting one's wishes down in writing with documents such as healthcare proxies, living wills and powers of attorney for healthcare and finances are just some of the ways that one can plan for the future.
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Why is an evaluation important for people with Age Associated Memory Impairment?
The symptoms of Age Associated Memory Impairment that a person may experience can cause unwarranted fear or anxiety that these may be early signs of Alzheimer's disease or another serious impairment. An evaluation serves to calm a person's fears, and provides an accurate picture of whether there are medical reasons causing the symptoms. Evaluations conducted every few years can help to monitor these symptoms over time.
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Why is it important for clinicians and researchers to understand age-associated memory impairment?
Age Associated Memory Impairment can be troublesome to a person and affect his or her productivity and quality of life. Studying the causes and possible treatment of this condition may eventually lead to the reversal or prevention of the problem. Furthermore, in order to prevent or cure memory impairment or Alzheimer's disease, researchers and clinicians need to understand which symptoms are indicators of disease and which are normal for a person at a certain age. Studying the symptoms of Age-Associated Memory Impairment is very important to this understanding because this condition marks the first stage in which individuals experience difficulties with memory. Also, it is important for researchers and clinicians to understand why some individuals experience only Age Associated Memory Impairment and why others develop Mild Cognitive Impairment or Alzheimer's disease.
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