Research shows that, though some memory lapses are normal, significant mental decline is not inevitable and there are strategies to support brain function and mental health.

Age, memory and understanding

If you can't find your house keys, have forgotten the name of your new neighbour and catch yourself looking for the milk in the microwave, don't worry - this is quite normal! Studies show that everyday 'cognitive deficits', like forgetting things, occur from about the age of 45. Of course, younger people forget things too - and we don't put their lapses down to age. Only worry when forgetfulness becomes severe.

Our 'working memory' - the span of immediate memory that, for example, enables us to remember an address while we write it down - declines with age. Working memory is a key component of our 'cognition' as it affects reasoning, calculation, speaking, listening, reading and writing. 'Cognition' is the term used for all the mental processes we use to perceive, remember, think and solve problems.

Long-term 'episodic' memory - our memory for personal events - also declines. However, 'semantic' memory - the basic understanding we have of our world - holds up very well. The very oldest are as good as the youngest in remembering that fires are hot, birds sing and the world is a sphere.

What happens as we age

On average, we take longer to retrieve things from memory, and we process information more slowly, as we get older. However, there is immense variation in cognitive ageing; in some people, cognitive abilities remain sharp, while in others they decline quite dramatically.

In many cases, this decline is linked to poor physical ill health (that is, multiple diseases and difficulties). Other factors such as deafness and possibly sight defects may also affect cognitive ability.

Again, there is no need to worry. Mental deficits are irritating but are rarely precursors of anything sinister. We don't lose our capacity to perform everyday cognitive tasks. We can still learn complex new skills and acquire knowledge (unless a disease intervenes) - we just take a bit longer to get there.

And there are strategies to support cognitive performance, and indeed to support brain health.