Is a little trouble with memory a reason to go to the doctor?

Question: Our mom is 80 years old and has been caregiver for our stepfather for about three years now. He had a stroke and has declined in health (mentally and physically) in the last year. Mom has stretched herself way beyond what she should have and now has trouble focusing and remembering things said not 30 minutes before. Could this be temporary, due to stress, or should we have her evaluated? Thanks.

Dr. Amy: Your mom’s symptoms could be caused by a number of different things. I strongly encourage you to have her visit the doctor. Whenever we experience a shift in how well we function, we should go to the doctor and get checked out. Many of us are tempted to ignore these changes or put off addressing the situation. Sometimes we try to figure it out ourselves. But the truth is that we don’t have the ability or training to assess all the possible causes of a change. Your mom's symptoms could be due to any number of things. A medical doctor is the most qualified person to figure it out. Good luck!