Is Memory Loss Always Dementia?
One of the reasons your elderly family member might be so concerned about memory loss is that this is often an early sign of dementia. But memory loss is related to other health issues, too, and the memory loss she’s experiencing could be reversible.
Head Injuries
One reason it’s so important to minimize fall risk is because your senior can become seriously injured. Most injuries involve hips and wrist or arm injuries, but head injuries are also a big problem. Your elderly family member could have a bruise on her brain or even a concussion. Head injuries are nothing to play with, so she needs to talk to her doctor right away.
Tumors or Infections in the Brain
It’s a lot more difficult to spot situations such as a tumor or infection in the brain. Memory loss might be what causes your senior to talk to her doctor, who runs the tests necessary to discover these situations. Not all tumors equal untreatable cancer, so finding the problem early is always better for your senior’s recovery.
Malnutrition
When your elderly family member isn’t eating enough or she isn’t eating well, she can suffer from malnutrition. Not getting enough nutrients means that her body cannot function as well as it should, and that includes her brain. She may start to experience memory issues, lack of concentration, irritability, and even depression due to lack of nutrition.
Medication Side Effects
Side effects from medication can cover a lot of ground. One of many different types of side effects can include memory loss. This side effect can occur even if your senior has been taking a specific medication for a while. Changes to dosage or to how the medication is made can have an impact. If your senior notices that her side effects from medications are changing, she needs to let her doctor know. Senior care providers can watch for signs of side effects from medications, as well as remind your senior loved one when to take their medication.
Other Health Issues
There are many other health issues that can mess with your senior’s memory, too. If she’s dealing with liver issues, kidney issues, or even thyroid issues, those can affect her memory. She needs to talk to her doctor about how she can adjust to improve her memory.
Memory issues can be scary for your senior. It helps to have someone else there with her on a regular basis, like senior care providers. They can help with whatever needs to be done and also ensure that she is safe.