If an older person's memory keeps getting worse and is starting to get in the way of daily life, take them once to a hospital memory clinic or neurology department to rule out causes that can be fixed first, such as depression, medicines they take, and not hearing or seeing well

Moderate value
Evidence B
Buys life
For: Elderly relative at home, Age 60+
Costs a little
Takes some hours
No willpower

In plain words

Worsening memory does not necessarily mean senility. First check for causes that can be fixed: depression, medicines taken wrongly, and not hearing or seeing well. But few cases can really be cured; fewer than 1% of dementia cases truly get better. Checking early has another use: while the older person can still make their own decisions, settle who will manage their money and medical decisions for them in the future.

Mentioned in

If an older person, two or three weeks to a few months after bumping their head, becomes unsteady on their feet, slow, sleepy or weak on one side, get a head CT

Translated from the Chinese original. Original book, section 17, tip 13. Content may be out of date and rules differ by place. When you actually deal with an agency, a doctor or a court, follow what local officials, doctors and lawyers tell you. Disclaimer