Worried About Your Memory?
Most of us experience slips in our memories from time to time. For example, you forget where to put your keys, you have trouble remembering where you parked, forget what you just read, or cannot recall someone’s name. In most cases, such lapses, however inconvenient they can be, are not the sign of something serious – especially if they occur during a time of stress or reduced sleep.
However, if you or a family member notice that your memory is getting noticeably worse, it is a good idea to speak to your doctor to see if further investigation is warranted. An in-depth assessment of your memory can help distinguish what might be normal aging or might be an early sign of a medical condition, known as dementia.
In many cases, people are referred to a neuropsychologist by their GP, psychiatrist, or neurologist if a further investigation is warranted. A neuropsycholoigcal evaluation is much more sensitive at picking up on early signs of dementia than an examination at the doctor’s office. An examination might show that there are no problems at all and may put your mind at ease. Alternatively, other causes for the memory loss may become apparent such as depression, stress, anxiety, or a side-effect of another illness or medication.
An evaluation also gives you a baseline assessment of your cognitive ability which will permit for comparison should further testing be needed in the future. Please discuss your concerns with your GP or another medical specialist before having a neuropsychological assessment.
