How to Distinguish Between Postmenopausal Memory Lapses & Dementia

As you get older, so does your memory. A little forgetfulness is a common trait of postmenopause that can be caused by other symptoms such as night sweats and insomnia. However, there are also more serious conditions that sometimes occur with age. To make sure you don’t confuse normal memory lapses with dementia, read on for descriptions of both conditions.

Types of Memory

Short-term memory

Is the capacity to remember information for a few moments. This is the type of memory you use when you read a telephone number, for instance, and then dial it. Short-term memory is the most vulnerable to aging.

Recent memory

Involves facts and information you’ve learned over the past day or weeks.

Long-term memory

Is the capacity to remember things that happened in the distant past, such as the names of family members or where you grew up. For this reason, long-term memory is also called remote memory.

The process of memory lapses actually begins in young adulthood. When you’re in your 20s, brains cells slowly begin to die and the brain slows production of the chemicals that aid in your thought processes. These changes may make it more difficult for you to recall information as you grow older, which is usually nothing to worry about. Words lingering on the tip of your tongue and misplacing your car keys every now and then are usually normal signs of aging and nothing to worry about.

Signs of normal memory lapses

memory lapses menopause • Short attention span
• Slowed thinking process
• The need for more stimuli (photos, scents, phrases) to remember facts

Unlike normal memory lapses, dementia is a set of symptoms that interferes with your daily routine. These symptoms may lead to the diagnosis of a specific condition, such as Alzheimer’s disease or a stroke. Other causes of dementia include Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis.

Signs of dementia

• Being forgetful constantly
• Repeating the same information many times during the course of a conversation
• Differences in personality and behavior
• Inability to complete complex tasks
•Inability to make decisions

If you exhibit any of these signs of dementia, you should talk to a physican about diagnosis. He or she may recommend a complete medical or physical evaluation, a brain scan and/or an MRI.

More Information about Memory Lapses:

Sometimes changes in diet can improve your memory lapses. Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins B, C, D, and E contain nutrients that stimulate brain function. Click the following link to read more about memory lapses.