Occasional Memory Lapses

1. Occasional Memory Loss
2. Occasional Memory Lapses Confusion And Agitation
3. Occasional Memory Lapse
4. Brief Memory Lapse

A lot of us have memory lapses. We walk into a room and forget why. We can’t remember where we parked the car. These lapses can be thought of as “normal” or “everyday” forgetfulness.

Is this something we should be concerned about? Most likely, no. However, we should all be familiar with signs that may indicate that what we’re experiencing is more than what we would typically expect to see with normal aging.

Mild Cognitive Impairment

Some people develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI). People who have MCI can still take care of themselves and do their normal activities, but they may:

• Lose things often.
• Forget appointments or events.
• Have more trouble than their peers coming up with words.

If you have concerns about your memory or thinking skills, your health care clinician can review and discuss potential causes. Some medications or other health conditions can cause these problems. Your clinician may recommend a neuropsychological evaluation to determine if there are clinically meaningful changes in your cognitive functioning.

Occasional memory lapses may be due to stress. Small memory lapses are a normal part of aging. He apparently did not find any current health condition that would contribute to your memory. Occasional memory lapses are part of the normal aging process. The difference between normal forgetfulness and dementia is that dementia becomes disabling, affecting a person’s ability to speak, think abstractly or remember. Normal, age-related memory loss does not disrupt work, hobbies, social activities or relationships.

An occasional memory slip is normal, says Johns Hopkins geriatrician Sevil Yasar, M.D., Ph.D.

Another note about MCI: It can be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease. Evaluation with a primary care clinician, neurologist, or neuropsychologist can be helpful in diagnosing MCI and Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative brain disorder that affects a person’s cognitive functioning, and, eventually, their ability to do routine daily activities.

It’s the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. It typically starts after age 65, and risk increases with age. Most cases of Alzheimer’s disease appear to be sporadic; however, having a first-degree relative with the disease increases your risk for developing it. Alzheimer’s disease starts slowly. It begins by affecting the parts of your brain that are involved in memory. Every person with Alzheimer’s disease may display symptoms differently, but here are some common early signs of Alzheimer’s:

• Trouble remembering recent conversations or events.
• Difficulty remembering names of acquaintances.
• Repeatedly asking for the same information.
• Difficulty with problem solving at work or home.
• Apathy and depression.

As the disease progress, the person may:

• Struggle to do routine tasks such as combing hair or brushing teeth.
• Not recognize family members.
• Become easily agitated or angry.
• Wander away from home.

Eventually, the person may need constant care.

At this time, there is no treatment to stop the disease. We do, however, have medications that may help temporarily slow the progression of symptoms.

A health care clinician can discuss treatment options. If Alzheimer’s disease is suspected, the clinician may refer the patient to a specialist such as a neurologist who focuses on disorders of the brain and nervous system. A referral to a neuropsychologist, a psychologist who specializes in brain-behavior relationships, may also be helpful. Aurora also has geriatricians who can evaluate and treat cognitive changes, as well as Memory Clinics for older adults where we can assess for cognitive decline and connect patients and family members with a variety of helpful resources.

If you need help to find a doctor, you can locate a primary care provider or specialist online. You can make an appointment online, too.

Overview

Many of us notice some forgetfulness as we age. If you are concerned that your memory is not as sharp as it used to be, Cleveland Clinic Brain Health and Wellness Shared Medical Appointments (SMA) can help.

Being Proactive About Your Brain Health

You can take steps to protect and improve your cognitive function – your memory and ability to think clearly and process information - through a healthy lifestyle. Research shows that it is never too late to see positive changes in your memory and brain power by making small and sustained changes to our daily lives pertaining to:

• A healthful diet composed of nutrient-dense foods
• Regular and enjoyable physical activity
• Relaxation activities such as yoga and meditation
• A healthy approach to sleep
• Activities that require focus and concentration

In the Brain Health and Wellness SMAs, you will learn the latest research on lifestyle modifications for brain health and will practice several of the recommended activities during the appointments. Your individual medical concerns will be evaluated in a one-on-one appointment with a physician prior to the first SMA, in the shared medical appointments, and in a follow-up visit after the SMA series has ended.

The Brain Health and Wellness SMA is for adults of any age who are concerned about occasional memory lapses. Or those with a family history of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease and want to be proactive about their brain health.

Appointments

To find out if Brain Health & Wellness is right for you, a lifestyle medicine specialist will first perform a thorough assessment. If we determine that further evaluation is indicated, we will refer you to the appropriate Cleveland Clinic specialists. If evaluation demonstrates that participation in our group appointments could benefit you, we will schedule your Brain Health & Wellness appointments.

Appointments are offered at Cleveland Clinic Lyndhurst Campus and Cleveland Clinic Lakewood Family Health Center. Please call 216.448.4325 to schedule your initial consult.

Occasional Memory Loss

How the Program Helps

How the Program Can Help

The Brain Health and Wellness SMAs can help maximize your brain health through:

Occasional Memory Lapses Confusion And Agitation

• Cognitive exercises: You will receive a complementary membership to an online brain training program and will practice the brain exercises in the weekly appointments and at home. You will stimulate different parts of your brain through these brain games and other enjoyable activities in the SMA.
• Nutrition education: You will learn about the specific foods that have been shown to protect your brain health.
• Relaxation training: You will learn how meditation and mindfulness practices have been shown to improve brain health and reduce stress and anxiety. During the SMAs, you will experience the calming effects of meditation and other mind-body practices firsthand.

Insurance Coverage

Covered by most plans

Shared medical appointments are covered by most insurance plans. Participants are responsible for insurance copays for each appointment and for a one-time charge for program materials. (There is no copay for the physician component of this program for Cleveland Clinic employees.) Material fees are non-refundable.

Occasional Memory Lapse

Integrative & Lifestyle Medicine

Brief Memory Lapse

• Shared Medical Appointments