[The default setting of memory is 'forgetting']

From the age of about 60, many people begin to experience difficulties with tasks that require the use of prospective memory and begin to have trouble finding words and names. Worried that these symptoms may be indicative of the onset of Alzheimer's disease, many of them fill in online self-tests or consult their family doctor. In the vast majority of cases, symptoms like these indicate completely natural age-related forgetfulness. Physicians should encourage a socially active lifestyle to slow down further decline. In cases of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), the physician should be aware of patients who deny or trivialise memory problems, especially if these problems have repercussions for performance in professions such as that of airline pilots or medical practitioners. In the absence of formal annual performance checks, ageing physicians should keep a close watch on themselves and on their colleagues.