Aging is not about losing your memory: this is how the brain changes

With the passage of time, The brain experiences a series of expected and physiological modificationsalthough it is a slow and non-uniform process.

“Among these modifications we can include slowness in processing information, slight memory failures, loss of concentration or structural changes in the brain,” says Dr. Lucía Vidorreta Ballesteros, a neurology specialist at the Quirónsalud San José Hospital who, In 2026, it will celebrate its Centennial.

Slow processing

Normal cognitive aging involves certain slowness to process informationalthough, nevertheless, the ability to reason is maintained. Some manifestations may be forgetting a name and remembering it lateror momentarily lose the thread of a conversation.

Keep in mind that these failures can be normal and are usually due to recovery difficulties, not an actual loss of stored memory. Maintaining concentration for long periods can be more difficult, especially in environments with multiple stimuli.

Minor structural changes

With normal – non-pathological – aging, progressive structural changes occur in the brain, which are predictable and well studied. They do not necessarily imply illness or cognitive impairment.

– Decreased brain volume (mild atrophy): gradual reduction in the total volume of the brain (prefrontal cortex, temporal and, to a lesser extent, parietal lobes).

– Thinning of the cerebral cortex.

– Slight reduction in hippocampal volume. It may affect the speed of memory consolidation, not the core memory. Marked atrophy is not normal and should be studied.

However, Why do many people age well cognitively?

The brain has a great capacity to adapt -call brain plasticity-so that it can reorganize itself, create new connections and compensate for structural changes, even at advanced ages. This concept, known as cognitive reserve, explains why people with active lifestyles maintain good mental functioning for decades.

However, there are changes that are not part of healthy agingare not normal and therefore require medical evaluationsuch as, among others:

– Forget important recent information.

– Repeat the same questions constantly.

– Difficulty finding your way around familiar places.

– Problems performing usual tasks.

– Significant changes in personality or behavior.

When symptoms interfere with autonomy we talk about cognitive impairment or dementia, which is a process different from normal aging (WHO, 2019). The early detection is essential, so it is It is advisable to consult with a professional If symptoms progress rapidly, the family notices relevant changes or loss of independence in daily life.

“We must keep in mind that aging is not equivalent to losing memory and that slight forgetfulness and a certain slowness can be normal, but what is important is the impact on daily life. Understanding the brain reduces fear and helps take better care of it, so early attention from the neurologist contributes to optimal functioning of the nervous system,” concludes Dr. Vidorreta.

The Quirónsalud San José Hospital, a center of maternal and child excellence

The Quirónsalud San José Hospital has become reference center for maternal and child care of Madrid’s private healthcare system whose objective is excellence in comprehensive care for minors and their family environment. It has neonatal and pediatric surgery and all pediatric specialties.

Thanks to the profound changes undertaken in recent years – innovation in medical and surgical equipment, evolution of treatment techniques, incorporation of the latest technologies and modernization of its facilities – today it provides a portfolio of services that covers almost all specialties, with reference equipment, such as Angiology and Vascular Surgery, where it has highly qualified professionals who develop advanced minimally invasive surgery techniques, for which the latest technical advances in medicine are available.

It also has other specialties such as Traumatology, Ophthalmology, Urology, Dermatology, Endocrinology, Internal Medicine, Cardiologyamong others, as well as a reference Gynecology and Obstetrics Service and a leading service in Diagnostic Imaging.

The Quironsalud San José Hospital offers 24-hour care in pediatric, gynecological and obstetric, general and trauma emergencies.

About Quirónsalud

Quirónsalud is the leading health group in Spain and, together with its parent company Fresenius-Helios, also in Europe. In addition to its activity in Spain, Quirónsalud is also present in Latin America. Collectively, it has more than 50,000 professionals in more than 180 health centersamong which there are 57 hospitals with more than 8,000 hospital beds. It has the most advanced technology and a large team of highly specialized professionals of international prestige. Among its centers are the Jiménez Díaz Foundation University Hospital, Teknon Medical Center, Ruber Internacional, Quirónsalud Madrid University Hospital, Quirónsalud Barcelona Hospital, Dexeus University Hospital, Policlínica Gipuzkoa, General University Hospital of Catalonia, Quirónsalud Sagrado Corazón Hospital, etc.

The Group works in the teaching promotion (eleven of its hospitals are university hospitals) and medical-scientific research (it has the FJD Health Research Institute, accredited by the Ministry of Science and Innovation).

Likewise, its healthcare service is organized into transversal units and networks that allow it to optimize the experience accumulated in the different centers and the clinical translation of its research. Currently, Quirónsalud is developing a multitude of research projects throughout Spain and many of its centers carry out cutting-edge work in this field, being pioneers in different specialties such as oncology, cardiology, endocrinology, gynecology and neurology, among others.