Cognitive decline refers to a gradual worsening of brain functions like memory, language skills, understanding information and more as people age. It is a normal part of aging. However, some people experience faster or more severe cognitive decline that interferes with daily activities. This is known as dementia.
The earliest signs of cognitive decline are often forgetting familiar words or where you put something. Later stages see difficulty with complex tasks like managing finances, following recipes, or driving places well known. Other red flags are struggling to follow conversations or understand visual information, as well as worsened judgment and changes in mood.
While mild cognitive impairment is expected, paying attention to diet, exercise, sleep and social activity may help slow decline. But if symptoms persist, seek an assessment for underlying causes.
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Genetics and family history play a role in cognitive decline risk. Various health conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, depression and low hormone levels also contribute. Head trauma and heavy alcohol use further increase susceptibility.
Dementia - marked by severe, progressive decline - has additional causes like:
While cognitive decline is expected with age, some lifestyle measures can help slow the process:
Medications and brain training programs are options too. For dementia specifically, care coordination and safety measures become necessary as well. Catching cognitive problems early on gives more time to take appropriate action.
I tried to cover the key things related to cognitive decline in an easy to understand way here while highlighting important terms. Let me know if you have any other questions!