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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Memory Loss In An Elderly Person?

I have a female friend and she talks a lot. She is 72. Some times she forgets where she is in a sentence and stars talking about something else. If I have heard her life stories once I have heard them a hundred times. She forgets she has told me a hundred times.
Mon, 18 May 2015
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello,

Welcome to Health Care Magic.

Thanks for writing.

I am Dr.Saddiq ul Abidin. I have read you question completely, i understand your concern and will try to help you in best way possible.

The condition you described is known as Dementia or memory loss in general. There are many causes of dementia but the four major include hypothyroid,vitamin B 12 deficiency, Lyme disease and neurosphylis. There is also a condition called Senile dementia which a condition in which with growing age the brain shrinks(atrophy) and this memory loss is common in elderly. I would suggest you get the complete evaluation of your friend to rule out and organic cause if present then it can be treated. However there are cognitive tests available for diagnosing Senile dementia. But there is little that can be done to help the patient. However supportive management is possible.





I hope this answered your question.If you have more queries I am happy to answer.Otherwise rate and close the discussion

Regrads.



Dr.Saddiq ul Abidin

M.B.B.S(Licensed Family Physician)

Resident Medicine.
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What Causes Memory Loss In An Elderly Person?

Hello, Welcome to Health Care Magic. Thanks for writing. I am Dr.Saddiq ul Abidin. I have read you question completely, i understand your concern and will try to help you in best way possible. The condition you described is known as Dementia or memory loss in general. There are many causes of dementia but the four major include hypothyroid,vitamin B 12 deficiency, Lyme disease and neurosphylis. There is also a condition called Senile dementia which a condition in which with growing age the brain shrinks(atrophy) and this memory loss is common in elderly. I would suggest you get the complete evaluation of your friend to rule out and organic cause if present then it can be treated. However there are cognitive tests available for diagnosing Senile dementia. But there is little that can be done to help the patient. However supportive management is possible. I hope this answered your question.If you have more queries I am happy to answer.Otherwise rate and close the discussion Regrads. Dr.Saddiq ul Abidin M.B.B.S(Licensed Family Physician) Resident Medicine.