Many things other than ageing alone can give rise to memory problems. These can include depression, and severe problems with memory and thinking, such as Alzheimer's disease. Sometimes the side effects of drugs, strokes, head injury and alcoholism can cause memory problems.
Of course everyone fears Alzheimer's disease and that particular disease starts by changing the recent memory. At first, a person with Alzheimer's disease will remember even small details of his or her distant past but not be able to remember recent events or conversations. Over time, however, the disease affects all parts of the memory.
So then a common question is How can I tell if my memory problems are serious? Well I have been told that a memory problem is serious when it affects daily living. If you sometimes forget names, you're probably okay.
But you may have a more serious problem if you have trouble remembering how to do things you've done many times before, getting to a place you've been to often, or doing things that requires steps like following a recipe.
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