Memory loss past "senior moments" could be related to more than just aging; experts said memory slips could be the first warning signs of Alzheimer's.
Most doctor's assure worried patients their memory lapses are a natural part of the aging process, but a study showed these early signs preceded more serious mental problems by about six years, ABC News reported.
"Maybe these people know something about themselves [that their doctors don't], and maybe we should pay attention to them," Dorene Rentz, a Massachusetts General Hospital psychologist said.
Creighton Phelps, a neuroscientist with the U.S. National Institute on Aging, urged people not to worry about "senior moment," which everybody has experienced. Memory loss should only be taken seriously if the information doesn't return later on, even when reminded.
A change in normal mental patterns could be a sign of cognitive decline.
"You're starting to forget things now that you normally didn't - doctor appointments, luncheon engagements, the kids are coming over ... things that a year or two ago you wouldn't," Dr. Ronald Petersen, director of the Mayo Clinic's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center said.
A study at the University of Bonn observed 2,230 people around the age of 80, they were able to link the inability to recall certain events with mental decline a few years down the road.
"If you notice a change in your pattern of either yourself or a loved one, seek a health care professional's evaluation," Heather Snyder, the Alzheimer's Association's director of medical and scientific operations said. "It could be a lack of sleep or nutritional, but it may be something more than that."
The Alzheimer's Association reported the warning signs of Alzheimer's are: memory loss that disrupts daily life, trouble with problem solving, difficulty completing everyday tasks, confusion about time or place, difficulty understanding visual images, trouble with speaking or writing, poor judgment, social withdrawal, and changes in mood or personality.
