Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm now 63. For the last five years or so I've had super short-term memory lapses. These are things like the stereotypical walk into a room and forget what you came in to get. Also, sometimes I'm about to Google something or similar and my mind blanks on what it was.

These are kind of scary, but from what I've read typical, sadly. The good news for me, for now, is that I do remember nearly everything within a few minutes, especially if something triggers it or it just pops back to front of mind for some reason.

This is me exactly at 62. I would say it started this year. I used to have a very good memory, almost too much so, I remembered every detail, but no longer. It is really shocking to think of something that I want to Google, and then seconds later completely forget. I am having trouble remembering the word for something a lot, and people’s names, which I never did before. I often think of a similar word instead of the one I really meant to say.

I used to remember every detail also. I knew where everything was, when I purchased or received it and from where. I had a really great memory and now I feel like I can't remember anything. I don't know what I've donated or kept or where it is or when I got it or where. It's awful.

In my early 50s I read Jane Brody’s column in the NYT that said as we age, we should not move things around our house, and we should keep “like with like.”
I’ve practiced that since then, and I rarely lose things. If I put something in a new place (hidden), I write a note and leave it in a prominent place.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in my early 50s with two teenagers. I was concerned and saw a doctor. He said my memory is fine. It’s just the stage of life I’m at. Working women with kids have a ton of things to remember! The cognitive load is immense.

Good to know. I forget words I'm going to type on a computer about every 2 weeks. But remember them in about 1 minute. I hope that is pretty normal for age 50. I feel like I remember much more than other people around me but that is more that they are not thinking about as much.

My neighbor is a gerontologist. He says this is totally normal. What isn’t normal is driving somewhere and not knowing how to get home or forgetting what your keys are for. That’s when you need help.
We have lots of stuff in our brain as we get older, and it can get harder to access it all if not used regularly.
You do need to challenge your brain - learn a new language, travel, read, take classes, study for a new trade or profession.
Idle brains begin to deteriorate.
And watch your B12 levels. Necessary for cognitive function.

I decided I had nothing to lose by working on brain health.

We all have many stressful events that cause brain issues. For example, my memory does downhill when I grieve a death. It’s terrible.

One doctor calls these “concussive events.” Our brains can’t heal due to our diets lacking omega 3s.

I’m healing from those sorts of events by consuming extra virgin olive oil and DHA. I’ve noticed positive improvement since May.

Here’s an article on the importance of omega 3. Before I started to address this, I thought I was getting dementia.

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/risk-factors-and-prevention/omega-3-and-dementia#:~:text=Omega%2D3%20is%20important%20for,important%20process%20for%20brain%20function.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm now 63. For the last five years or so I've had super short-term memory lapses. These are things like the stereotypical walk into a room and forget what you came in to get. Also, sometimes I'm about to Google something or similar and my mind blanks on what it was.

These are kind of scary, but from what I've read typical, sadly. The good news for me, for now, is that I do remember nearly everything within a few minutes, especially if something triggers it or it just pops back to front of mind for some reason.

This is me exactly at 62. I would say it started this year. I used to have a very good memory, almost too much so, I remembered every detail, but no longer. It is really shocking to think of something that I want to Google, and then seconds later completely forget. I am having trouble remembering the word for something a lot, and people’s names, which I never did before. I often think of a similar word instead of the one I really meant to say.

I used to remember every detail also. I knew where everything was, when I purchased or received it and from where. I had a really great memory and now I feel like I can't remember anything. I don't know what I've donated or kept or where it is or when I got it or where. It's awful.

Download the SAGE test from the University of Ohio. Memory alone is not the best indicator for Alzheimer's, actually. I have an anxiety disorder since birth and the anxiety gives me abad memory as the anxiety overtakes thinking. Had memory issues since childhood. Doesn't mean I have dementia!

Has anyone tried those brain programs? Do they help with this stuff?

Anonymous wrote:I’ve always been forgetful. I hope it doesn’t mean dementia, but who knows. Examples: word/name retrieval, losing keys, dense information is in one ear and out the other. I’m also on a lifelong medication that works really well, but it has a couple side affects including possible memory impairment. Most of the time my memory is fine so it doesn’t impact me in a real way (yet).

I am curious if it is Prozac or another SSRI. I have been on it longterm and wonder if it correlates at all with my memory issues.

Anonymous wrote:I'm now 63. For the last five years or so I've had super short-term memory lapses. These are things like the stereotypical walk into a room and forget what you came in to get. Also, sometimes I'm about to Google something or similar and my mind blanks on what it was.

These are kind of scary, but from what I've read typical, sadly. The good news for me, for now, is that I do remember nearly everything within a few minutes, especially if something triggers it or it just pops back to front of mind for some reason.

This is me exactly at 62. I would say it started this year. I used to have a very good memory, almost too much so, I remembered every detail, but no longer. It is really shocking to think of something that I want to Google, and then seconds later completely forget. I am having trouble remembering the word for something a lot, and people’s names, which I never did before. I often think of a similar word instead of the one I really meant to say.