that your long-term memory has declined. I'm a year younger, 71, and so far I have not experienced any such declines.
I do know that a lot of cognitive declines can be gradual or subtle. I have a good friend, a man who is turning 80 in May, and who is planning a trip to Hawaii for his birthday, Hooray for him! who does have (to me) noticeable memory lapses. In his case they are short term memory things, as in I'll be telling him something and he'll get a bit confused, question me about what I've just said, and then seem to be okay. I do concentrate on not being impatient with him. After all, I might be the same way in similar situations and not recognize it. But honestly, in the time I've known him, I do think I'm seeing a decline in his cognitive function.
Which does make me give a lot of thought as to how I might want to make sure I'm taken care of when my cognitive function declines too much. And how would I (or those around me) know?
My friend is a single (gay) man. He has friends. He has a sister in our city. He recently made a new will, and I know that because I was a witness to the signing of it.
His situation has made me think a LOT about end of life issues. Those issues are difficult. They're problematical. All I can say is please think about them. And do what seems necessary and appropriate.