Perhaps you’ve walked into a room, but forgot why you went there or left the house and then realized you forgot your keys.

For many aging adults, including seniors and millions of baby boomers nearing retirement, you worry that memory loss is a sure sign of cognitive decline.However, German researchers recently showed that these types of “senior moments” are a normal part of aging and for most adults, won’t lead to more serious conditions—like the onset of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Does memory loss affect your ability to function?

Instead, experts say this is the key question to ask. Specifically, they recommend being on the lookout for new problems with memory like increasing difficulty balancing the checkbook, reading the newspaper, making decisions, showing good judgment, or holding a conversation.These functional effects of memory loss—which usually disrupt work, hobbies, social activities, relationships, and more—are disabling and cause for great concern. Why? Because they actually are some of the first warning signs of more serious cognitive decline and memory related disorders, like dementia or Alzheimer’s.

However, if you haven’t progressed past the occasional “senior moment,”no need to start worrying. A bit of forgetfulness doesn’t mean you’re doomed to experience significant or permanent memory loss.In fact, you can take steps to boost brain health by getting mental and physical exercise, staying socially active, eating more raw organic fruits and vegetables, getting plenty of restful sleep, reducing stress and getting a good dose of vitamin E.

Vitamin E helps protect against memory loss

In previous research, high doses of a vitamin E were shown to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in military veterans. Significant? You bet. It was the first time any treatment has been proven effective in changing the course of late-stage dementia.

Now, a new study published in Experimental Gerontology offers even greater hope to those suffering from other forms of dementia—like memory related disorders.

Researchers in Finland tested memory function in 140 seniors over age 65. Subjects showed no memory impairment at the start of the study.Over the course of eight years, researchers discovered that seniors with high blood serum vitamin E levels were less likely to suffer from memory disorders than peers with lower levels.

Interestingly,previous memory studies only tested a single natural form of vitamin E, d-alpha tocopherol. But in the new study, Finnish researchers proved the entire vitamin E family, eight different forms of tocopherols and tocotrienols, plays a significant role in memory function.