“I Can’t Remember Well”: Jeon Won-joo’s Latest Update After an “Early Dementia” Diagnosis [Health Talk]

[Financial News] Actor Jeon Won-joo, 87, was shown struggling to properly recall memories with Kim Hyung-ja, a friend of 55 years. Jeon had previously said that a health checkup resulted in an early dementia diagnosis. She was later reported to have received a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment on a broadcast. Even when memory loss occurs, mild cognitive impairment and dementia are diagnosed differently based on a person’s ability to carry out daily activities.
A trailer for MBN’s “Unforgettable Duet 2,” released on the 23rd, featured a scene of Jeon Won-joo reminiscing about the past with Kim Hyung-ja.
When Kim Hyung-ja asked about memories from the past, Jeon Won-joo replied, “I can’t remember.” When Kim asked again, “You can’t?”, Jeon shook her head and said, “I can’t remember well.”
Kim replied, “I guess I’m the only one who remembers. Looks like you’ve forgotten, sis.” In another scene from the trailer, Jeon also expressed her wish to “hold on to precious memories for a long, long time.”
The two have maintained their friendship in the entertainment industry for 55 years.
Jeon Won-joo appeared on TV CHOSUN’s “Perfect Life” last April and said she had been told after a health checkup that she had early dementia. She was later reported to have received a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment in an examination conducted on a broadcast.

Mild cognitive impairment refers to a condition in which cognitive function has declined noticeably compared with the memory loss associated with normal aging, but the ability to carry out daily activities has not declined enough to warrant a dementia diagnosis.
According to medical information from Seoul National University Hospital, mild cognitive impairment is a condition in which tests objectively confirm a decline in memory or other cognitive functions, while the ability to carry out daily activities remains intact. The main criterion for distinguishing it from dementia is also its impact on daily life.
Dementia is a condition in which declines in memory, language, judgment, visuospatial cognition and other abilities make independent living difficult. By contrast, people with mild cognitive impairment can manage basic daily activities on their own even if their memory has declined.
Not everyone with mild cognitive impairment goes on to develop dementia. Seoul National University Hospital puts the annual rate of progression to dementia among people with mild cognitive impairment at around 10–15%. This is higher than the annual rate of 1–2% among older adults with normal cognition.
However, this is a rate observed in a study population; it does not directly indicate an individual patient’s likelihood of developing dementia or when it might progress.

A decline in memory with age does not mean that dementia should be suspected in every case. What matters is how often memory problems occur and how much they affect daily life.
According to the Central Dementia Center’s “Dementia Encyclopedia,” ordinary forgetfulness often involves being unable to remember part of an experience but recalling it again when given a hint.
With dementia, by contrast, symptoms may include being unable to remember the experience itself or repeating the same question. Over time, people may confuse dates and places or have difficulty with familiar tasks.
Seoul National University Hospital describes various possible causes of memory loss, including normal aging, depression, mild cognitive impairment and dementia. In particular, depression in older adults can also cause problems with concentration and memory, so it is necessary to distinguish it from other conditions.
The scene in which Jeon Won-joo could not remember something from the past on a broadcast likewise cannot, based on that remark alone, establish the extent of any cognitive decline or the progression of a condition.

When mild cognitive impairment or dementia is suspected, a comprehensive assessment examines not only memory but also language, attention, judgment, visuospatial cognition and other abilities.
According to “Preventing Cognitive Decline” on the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s National Health Information Portal, the most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Cognitive decline caused by Alzheimer’s disease generally progresses from normal cognition to mild cognitive impairment, early dementia, moderate dementia and severe dementia.
However, cognitive decline can have many different causes. In some cases, symptoms improve or even resolve when the cause is addressed through appropriate treatment.
During an examination, a patient’s symptoms and medical history are reviewed, and cognitive test results are assessed. Additional tests, such as blood tests and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may be conducted as needed to investigate the cause of cognitive decline.
After diagnosis, changes in symptoms and the ability to carry out daily activities are monitored on an ongoing basis. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency advises that receiving an accurate diagnosis early is important because treatment and the course of the condition vary depending on the cause of cognitive decline.


[email protected] Han Seung-gon Reporter