Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

What Causes Memory Loss In An Elderly Person?

My grandmother has off and on had memory loss once in a while, but there was a bad family argument and my grandmother called the police and had my mom arrested for assault and treating her life,computating treats.that was the 3rd.of this month,now she is asking where is mom.and she doesn t remember anything that happened that night. Why can t she remember?
Tue, 26 Dec 2017
Report Abuse
General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hi,
I appreciate your concern regarding your grandmother's memory loss and I'll try to explain the reasons for the same.
Some degree of memory problems, as well as a modest decline in other thinking skills, is a fairly common part of ageing.
As we grow older, we experience physiological changes that can cause glitches in brain functions we’ve always taken for granted. It takes longer to learn and recall information.
But there is a difference between the memory loss due to ageing and memory loss due to diseases such as Alzheimer's.

For most people, occasional lapses in memory are a normal part of the ageing process, not a warning sign of serious mental deterioration or the onset of dementia.
The primary difference between age-related memory loss and dementia is that the former isn’t disabling.
When memory loss becomes so pervasive and severe that it disrupts your work, hobbies, social activities, and family relationships, you may be experiencing the warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease, or another disorder that causes dementia, or a condition that mimics dementia.
So if this kind of memory loss happens frequently with your grandmother,I am certain that she has either Alzheimer’s disease, or another disorder which needs to be investigated.
I will advise to get your grandmother to a nearby physician for a diagnosis.
I hope my answer will help.
Please feel free to ask more question.
Thanks,
Dr.Prabhas Verma
I find this answer helpful

Note: Get a consultation booked to know more about aging related medical issues. Click here.
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 

Related questions you may be interested in


Loading Online Doctors....
What Causes Memory Loss In An Elderly Person?

Hi, I appreciate your concern regarding your grandmother s memory loss and I ll try to explain the reasons for the same. Some degree of memory problems, as well as a modest decline in other thinking skills, is a fairly common part of ageing. As we grow older, we experience physiological changes that can cause glitches in brain functions we’ve always taken for granted. It takes longer to learn and recall information. But there is a difference between the memory loss due to ageing and memory loss due to diseases such as Alzheimer s. For most people, occasional lapses in memory are a normal part of the ageing process, not a warning sign of serious mental deterioration or the onset of dementia. The primary difference between age-related memory loss and dementia is that the former isn’t disabling. When memory loss becomes so pervasive and severe that it disrupts your work, hobbies, social activities, and family relationships, you may be experiencing the warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease, or another disorder that causes dementia, or a condition that mimics dementia. So if this kind of memory loss happens frequently with your grandmother,I am certain that she has either Alzheimer’s disease, or another disorder which needs to be investigated. I will advise to get your grandmother to a nearby physician for a diagnosis. I hope my answer will help. Please feel free to ask more question. Thanks, Dr.Prabhas Verma