New book reveals how to tell if your memory lapses are normal – or a sign of possible Alzheimer’s

ARE your memory lapses normal – or a worrying sign of dementia?

It’s a question many of us ask after a forgetful moment.

Today, in an exclusive new series on The Mail+, renowned neurologist Dr Richard Restak reveals when you should worry – and when you can relax.

Dr Restak sets out everyday scenarios – for example forgetting where you have parked, or what cards have been played in a game of bridge – and explains whether these are ‘perfectly normal’ or potentially more serious.

He says forgetting the names of your grandchildren is ‘nothing to worry about’, and does not necessarily mean the onset of Alzheimer’s. By contrast, forgetting the route you took to the shops could be a sign something is wrong.

Dr Restak says that while the occasional ‘senior moment’ is common as we age, it’s vital for our wellbeing that we are able to distinguish one from the other.

Starting today on The Mail+, you can read exclusive extracts from Dr Restak’s brilliant new book The Complete Guide to Memory: The Science of Strengthening Your Mind.

Part two, delving even deeper into Dr Restak’s decades of wisdom and knowledge, will be published tomorrow on The Mail+. His imaginative tips on how to increase your memory skills could help protect against cognitive decline.

The series will also be available in Saturday’s Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday.