Image of male nurse pushing senior woman in a wheelchair in nursing facility

More than 30% of those over age 70 have memory problems, and a panel of aging experts said this population should have memory and reasoning ability evaluated annually by a healthcare provider.

Around 16% of those older than 70 have mild cognitive impairment, noted the group, writing in the September Journal of American Medical Directors Association. Fourteen percent have dementia.

Progression of cognitive impairment can sometimes be changed through lifestyle adjustment, they noted, such as adopting a Mediterranean-type diet. Video games also can help reasoning, memory and reaction time in older adults.