Cognitive decline refers to a gradual worsening of brain functions like memory, reasoning, and thinking over time. It is a normal part of the aging process, but can be accelerated by medical conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
As we grow older, our brains undergo natural changes that can make it harder to recall information, multitask, and learn new things. This is because brain cells and connections between them deteriorate over decades of use.
Some early signs of regular age-related cognitive decline are:
However, severe memory loss, inability to complete familiar tasks, behavioral changes and confusion could indicate abnormal brain aging linked to Alzheimer's disease or dementia.
The exact causes of age-related cognitive decline are not fully understood, but involve:
Unhealthy lifestyles like smoking, lack of exercise, and poor diet can accelerate cognitive decline. Medical issues such as high BP, diabetes, high cholesterol and depression have also been linked.
Luckily, some lifestyle changes can help maintain a healthy brain:
Reaching optimal levels of important hormones like testosterone, estrogen, and growth hormones can also help counteract aspects of brain aging based on latest research.
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I hope this overview gives you a good understanding of what contributes to age-related cognitive decline vs more abnormal memory loss. Let me know if you have any other questions!