My Mum (89) has started singing old songs all the time. Is her short term memory getting worse?

Oh crap,,both my hubs and I sing and play songs from our youth.. our radios are set to 70, 80, and 90's rock music. It may just be she likes that music better than todays music. My Mom loved country music,, but not todays ! It sure is not John Cash or Hank Williams! I hope this dosen;t mean we are getting senile!

As the person ages, all the organs including brain wears out gradually. This causes changes in behavior and mental status. All organs have an expiration date. If it's the heart, the person dies. If it's the brain the person becomes demented but gradually. Imagine the brain as an onion. The outer layers died off first, then the next layers until it reaches the deep ones. The recent memory is on the outside layers and the past memories are in the deeper layers. So the recent memory goes out first, but the past memories being in deeper layers, remain. They are the last to die. There is nothing that can be done to stop or slow down the aging process.

She may just be nostalgic. My mum has always sung songs from the past and come to think of it so do I. Songs from the past are always better.

Nobody can answer such a question based on singing old songs! Speak with your moms doctor if you have concerns about her dementia progressing. Also read up on the subject to familiarize yourself with the stages of dementia and what to look out for. The 36 Hour Day is a great book to get and a valuable resource as you travel this road with your mother.