Do senior moments mean memory loss?

Eleanor Roosevelt said, "Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift; that's why they call it the present."

Patrick Sapio, MSW, who works at Intermountain's LiVe Well Center and facilitates several support groups throughout the community, said Roosevelt's quote is among his favorites. He has a passion for life and feels that "senior moments" are simply a part of a busy life replete with thoughts, memories and ideas.

Senior moments do not necessarily indicate a memory problem. Instead they indicate a lack of focus on the present moment.

"No joke," said Sapio, "on my bathroom wall hangs a sign that says: 'Now what did I come in here for?' We all experience those split seconds when the thought that we had escapes us temporarily."

This happens to everyone, not just senior citizens.

"The key is not to get upset or agitated," counseled Sapio. "People these days have a lot to think about. If you draw a momentary blank, smile about it, forgive yourself, and soon you will remember and everything will go back to normal."

Sapio is referring to the absentmindedness of not knowing where the car keys are located or a coworker's name. Short-term memory loss such as not knowing what the keys are for or not being able to recognize a familiar person is cause for concern and should be evaluated by a medical professional.

"I want to challenge everyone to learn to live one second at a time," said Sapio. "If everyone was completely focused on each second, we would not have the temporary moments of memory loss that occur when we start thinking about other things."

Sapio explained that a lot of people feel guilty about the past and worry about the future and suggested people need to live in the present — one second at a time. He believes the world would be a better place if people focused on each moment or second.

"We all make mistakes," Sapio said. "Mistakes are in the past. The present second is the time to forgive and move forward. Each second of the day is an opportunity to become more aware of ourselves and others. It is empowering to think of time in seconds rather than hours."

It helps maintain focus.

"As we age, we have a tendency to want to be alone and sedentary," said Sapio. "I encourage people to face that issue and make daily efforts to connect with other people and get some exercise." Click here to continue reading