Being aware that you have a problem with memory may be the first sign of damage to the brain areas dealing with memory and learning.
Have you ever joked about having Alzheimer's when you lose the car keys or forget an appointment? Recent research now suggests that, in fact, awareness of memory decline may be no laughing matter.

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, studied 39 individuals, aged 50 and older, with mild, age-related memory complaints. They carried out objective memory assessments, and asked the subjects to rate their own memory. Each participant also had a positron emission tomography (PET) scan, both at the start of the study and two years later.

Those who reported most awareness of memory loss and made most use of lists and other memory joggers were more likely to show a decline in brain activity two years on. The decline affected those brain areas dealing with memory and learning. The study shows it may be important to take a person's awareness of memory problems into account during a cognitive assessment. It's not all bad news though - if awareness of memory decline signals early dementia, further research may show ways in which the condition can be held off.