Understanding yourself
Mild memory problems
“I used to remember every formula. Now I lose words.”
Not every memory lapse is dementia. Assessment finds treatable causes, and nearly half of dementia cases may be linked to factors we can change.
Professor Anwar taught physics at a public university for thirty years and could recite every equation on the syllabus. Lately, at sixty-seven, he loses ordinary words mid-sentence and walks into rooms without knowing why. He is frightened it is the start of what his father had.
An illustration drawn from common experience. The person is invented; the pattern is not.
Understanding mild memory problems
Memory changes with age, and mild lapses are common. Mild cognitive impairment describes changes that are noticeable but do not yet stop someone living independently; some people remain stable, and some develop dementia. Many other things also affect memory: depression, anxiety, poor sleep, thyroid problems, vitamin B12 deficiency, hearing loss and some medicines, and several of these are treatable.
The finding worth knowing
The 2024 Lancet Commission on dementia estimated that about 45% of dementia cases could potentially be prevented or delayed by addressing 14 risk factors, including untreated hearing loss, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, physical inactivity, smoking, social isolation and uncorrected vision loss.
Signs worth noticing
- Forgetting recent conversations or appointments more than before
- Losing words, or the thread of conversations
- Others noticing changes before you do
- Worry about memory that is affecting your mood
How care helps
A careful assessment covers memory, mood, sleep, hearing, medicines and blood tests, and looks for treatable causes. Then come practical steps: treating depression or poor sleep, managing blood pressure and diabetes, getting hearing and vision checked, staying active and connected, and reviewing again over time.
What getting better can look like
Professor Anwar might get a clear answer, a hearing aid, a daily walk with former students, and a lighter fear.
Common questions about mild memory problems
Is forgetting words a sign of dementia?
Not necessarily. Mild memory lapses are common with age, and many things affect memory, including depression, anxiety, poor sleep, thyroid problems, vitamin B12 deficiency, hearing loss and some medicines. Several of these are treatable, which is why an assessment is worth having early.
Can dementia be prevented?
Not in every case, but the risk can be lowered. The 2024 Lancet Commission on dementia estimated that about 45% of cases could potentially be prevented or delayed by addressing 14 risk factors, including untreated hearing loss, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, physical inactivity, smoking and social isolation. This is an estimate across populations, not a promise for any one person.
When to see a psychiatrist
If memory changes are worrying you or your family, an assessment is the right step, early rather than late.
Care here is personal: built around your history, your health and what you want to change, and reviewed with you as it goes.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
If some of this sounds familiar, a first conversation is a good place to start. You do not need the right words, or to be certain.
Dr. Tajreen is consulting in Uttar Badda now, until 8:00 pm. Call +880 1847-331010Every address and its hours
Sources
- Livingston et al., The Lancet, 2024
You do not need to have everything figured out before you begin.
