Serious memory loss is not an inevitable part of aging. The shallowest level of memory is called sensory memory, which holds information, vision, hearing, taste, touch and smell.
Age appears to have no effect on the capacity of long-term memory.
For some, recall is just slowed down. For others, memory impairment becomes both noticeable and troublesome. Whatever the cause, serious memory loss is not an inevitable part of aging or an unavoidable part of growing older. However, difficulty with memory may give rise to the concern that something is really wrong. The unspoken fear is that loss of memory may represent the beginning of dementia, specifically Alzheimer's Disease.