The odd memory lapse is no big deal – so when should we start to worry? Experts explain, and share the best ways to stay sharp
Isn’t it Sod’s Law? Just at the point in our lives when we start seriously considering our long-term health and mortality – perhaps after witnessing older loved ones getting an illness such as dementia – our responsibilities are piled so high that we can feel as if we’re losing our mental capacities already. The names of our favourite animals and humans become an interchangeable word soup. Our keys become increasingly elusive. Alerts must be set on all calendar entries.
But how can we tell whether this frustrating flakiness is a reflection of age-related cognitive decline; the early signs of our own impending dementia; or merely an overly taxing phase from which we will recover? Could it even just be normal forgetfulness? We’re not robots, after all.
More Stories
Black Mirror’s pessimism porn won’t lead us to a better future | Louis Anslow
Bank of England says AI software could create market crisis for profit
As a geneticist, I will not mourn 23andMe and its jumble of useless health information | Adam Rutherford