Memory Loss Signs Come Early

People who complain of memory loss may be onto something: several new studies show that those who self-report having trouble with memory often predict the onset of mental decline by about six years. Mild memory lapses happen to everyone, especially as they advance in age, but memory loss that interrupts normal functioning may be a sign that something worse is coming, even if someone tests normally on the cognitive scale. “Maybe these people know something about themselves,” said Dorene Rentz, a psychologist who participated in one of the studies. Researchers suggested that doctors should pay more attention to early reports of memory trouble.