The Alzheimer's Association recently issued a report indicating that for adults who live beyond age 55, the lifetime risk of developing Alzheimer's disease averages 17 percent in women and 9 percent in men.

However, in the past several years many researchers have identified a form of memory decline referred to as minimal cognitive impairment that may provide early indication of more serious memory loss to come. A recent report published in the Annals of Internal Medicine showed that 22.2 percent of adults over the age of 71 have the impairment and as many as 12 percent of those develop significant memory loss annually.

Currently, 5.1 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, but as the 78 million baby boomers reach the "Third Age" of life, the incidence of Alzheimer's disease will increase dramatically. The Alzheimer's Association projects that the number of adults with Alzheimer's disease will increase to 7.7 million in 2030 and 11 million to 16 million by 2050.

Minimal cognitive impairment is diagnosed in patients whose memory tests reveal memory function within the lower limit of the normal range. There might be minor problems with memory, communication, judgment, attention span or language, but the findings do not meet the criteria for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's or other medical conditions causing memory loss. About 25 percent of these patients have a chronic disease such as heart failure or diabetes. These patients typically develop Alzheimer's more frequently and have a higher mortality rate than those without associated illness.

Many believe there are serious advantages to identifying Alzheimer's disease as early as possible. Although it hasn't been definitively proved, a large number of experts in the field believe that if patients with Alzheimer's disease are treated earlier, they are more likely to live independently for longer periods of time.

If early Alzheimer's disease or minimal cognitive impairment is diagnosed, it is important to reassure the patient and his or her family that what they have constitutes no more than a minor disability. Provided they take care of themselves, many patients can count on 10 or more years of a productive and independent life. They may experience forgetfulness, but incorporating simple adjustments into daily life, such as using lists and notes as reminders, will prevent them from missing appointments or forgetting tasks.

Early diagnosis also allows more time for educating the patient and his or her family about what to expect and how to plan for the future. We also know that compulsory treatment of associated medical problems such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes will slow the rate of progression of memory loss. For patients with minimal cognitive impairment, it is important to avoid medications that can adversely affect memory. Finally, although it's not proven, many physicians and researchers believe early treatment with medications to slow Alzheimer's (Aricept, Razadyne, Exelon, Namenda) will increase the long-term benefit.

For most baby boomers, fear of developing memory loss is a serious, if often unfounded, concern. I have seen relatively young patients who complain of being unable to remember names or of being forgetful. Most times, a short memory evaluation reveals that the patient's memory is fine.

Forgetting names or having difficulty recalling past events is typically nothing more than "benign forgetfulness" — not a harbinger of any serious problem. Memory loss is considered significant if it interferes with an individual's ability to function in the community or interact with others. This includes: being unable to work normally, getting lost frequently, being unable to balance the checkbook or going to the supermarket and forgetting why you are there.

Often significant memory loss becomes a concern when families complain a loved one is becoming forgetful, repeating himself again and again, forgetting appointments or, more seriously, not recognizing family members. In these circumstances, memory tests can reveal significant abnormalities. The most common diagnosis is Alzheimer's disease, followed by vascular dementia, a condition that results in blockages to blood vessels in the brain. These and other rarer causes of memory loss are never a consequence of aging, but reflect a serious illness that occurs much more commonly with advancing age.

The message is clear. If you or a loved one you know may have a problem with memory loss, seek help. Early diagnosis and compulsory attention to detail can assure a longer and a better life.

Dr. David Lipschitz is the author of the book "Breaking the Rules of Aging." To find out more about Dr. David Lipschitz and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. More information is available at www.drdavidhealth.com.