Mom in 80s,independent. lately ive noticed that shes been forgetful. repeats herself,forget stuff i told her)do i tell her what i see?brain exercises, games? been trying to use triggers to help & dont want her to feel conscious?

Those symptoms are not uncommon at all for an octogenarian. More socialization either in daily life or in virtual reality will be helpful. If she likes reading or doing crosswords, encourage her doing so.

This behavior is not uncommon in mild cognitive impairment, which could be secondary to medication, alcohol/ nutritional deficiency, B-12 issues, a series of small strokes, or even Alzheimer's. Dr Le's suggestions are excellent to help her cope, but to be on safe side, suggest a physician gets involved. Cognitive changes can occur with aging, but far more often, there is a different explanation.