Forgetting May Just Be Aging

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Last week there was a study that has raised a great deal of concern. Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital found a possible link between the memory complaints that older people have and their Alzheimer's disease risk.

Immediately, people all over the country started wondering if they were at heightened risk for Alzheimer's.

It is important to mention that certain types of memory loss are normal as we age. For instance, not recalling a casual acquaintance's name immediately or remembering a baseball player who led the American League in home runs in a particular year.

When we worry about memory we are concerned about things like forgetting how to get home, or struggling to remember when regularly scheduled meetings are about to start. The good news is that your family physician has screening tests that you can take if you have any concerns. Many of these things affect function and activities of daily living.