Feb

29

Failing Memory

Posted by cameron

February 29, 2008 |

It’s a standing joke in our house that if I’m going to the store for more than one item I make a list. Yes, two is a list. Even for a single item my wife isn’t always sure I’ll come back with the one item I went out for. I’m exaggerating a little, but not much. What is really strange is my wife will sometimes ask about someone from twenty years ago and I’ll immediately recall their name. What is going on? I don’t seem to have a problem learning new things or teaching others those things I have learned. It’s the small, seemingly unimportant things, like shopping lists. How does one tell if it’s important or just aging? Aging is not something we have prior experience of so any and all changes are discoveries. I’m not trying to dwell on this but it does peak my curiosity. (At least that’s normal).

I found on Wikipedia a precursor term “Mild Cognitive Impairment” or MCI for short.  MCI is considered a boundary condition between normal aging and something more serious. MCI is considered a precursor to more serious issues like Alzheimers Disease. So I setout to find information about MCI but it seems to be in the same arena of vagueness as full blown Alzheimers. In fact the same tests can be run as doctors might for Alzheimers. The difference between the two is severity, which makes sense if it’s a precursor. The University of California, San Francisco has a website with latest information. Go here if you want to look through it.

Clearly there isn’t a good, easily available test, anymore than there is for Alzheimers. I suspect that family and friends will know long before a doctor will, although I have no real grounds for saying that. Hold on, I’m going to ask my wife about my cognitive abilities……… What’s her name?


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