Author: Maria Alfano-Huggins
Where did I put my glasses? Sound familiar? The whole while they’re sitting on the top of your head:-) Or, those darn keys are never where you left them the night before. Is forgetting things after 50 a sign of something horrible or just a normal part of aging?
Forgetfulness can make you the butt of someone’s jokes. They may poke fun at you in the beginning however, if things progress, the words said in jest can turn into a fear that something much more serious is going on.
So what exactly does cause age-related forgetfulness, you ask? The hippocampus is the region of the brain that controls your ability to create and recall memories. The older we get the more that part of your brain starts to deteriorate and become less effective. In more mature women, menopause and the lack of hormones add to declining brain function. As you age, you tend to be less active. Inactivity slows the blood flow to the brain.
Forgetting Things After 50 – Is it Something More Serious
What were we talking about? Oh, yeah! Forgetting things. All joking aside, a little forgetfulness never hurt anyone, unless, it becomes more frequent and life-altering.
What Causes Memory Loss & Forgetfulness in Your 50s
Some very common symptoms that you know and hear about almost daily can lead to memory loss:
- Depression
- Certain medications – can put you at risk of brain atrophy
- Stress from always focusing on your problems
- Dehydration
- Insufficient vitamin B12 levels – impact the neurological receptors for vision and memory
Why am I forgetting so Easily?
Additional issues that may be causing your lack of remembering:
- Thyroid problems
- Lack of sleep
when should I be concerned about forgetfulness
What are the first signs of memory loss? Does your absentmindedness impact your ability to function?
When I was younger, and I would go to Mom and Dad’s for dinner, Mom would always pack me a lunch for work the next day. Without fail, I would forget and leave without the brown paper bag in hand 95% of the time. This definitely did not impact my ability to function, although I could get quite “hangry” when my belly says feed me, and it gets nothing!!
If you can continue to be independent and do what you used to do, there is nothing to worry about.
Talking and joking about your last memory lapse, is a good sign telling you this is normal.
The odd time you can’t recall a word is nothing to be concerned about. Yup – you are still normal.
Being able to make decisions and have no change in judgment means your forgetfulness is normal.
More Serious Concerns
If forgetting gets exaggerated look for these serious problematic behaviours:
- Misplacing or losing things frequently
- Forgetting important dates or events
- Trouble having a conversation
- Not keeping up with monthly responsibilities like the rent or bills
- Making bad decisions or poor judgment calls
- Not knowing what day, month, or year it is
The most severe symptoms may be associated with dementia:
- Loss of cognitive function – leads to the inability to think, hold a conversation, or recall memories
- The number one cause leading to dementia is the lack of an established routine
At What Age Does Memory Loss Start
While the average age for forgetting is around 50, it is not unusual for folks as young as 20-30 to experience forgetting things. The chart below demonstrates the differences between normal memory loss, dementia, and Alzheimer’s.
The quickest way to test for dementia is the clock test. Ask your loved one to draw a clock with a specific time. Often patients battling with dementia will not be able to complete this simple task. The most common mistakes they make are: putting the numbers in the wrong order or duplicating the numbers, putting the wrong numbers on the clock face, missing hands, hands pointing to the wrong time, or refusing to participate in the task.
An Ounce of Prevention
It’s never too late to start taking care of your brain. Every little boost we can give it will be a boost to your memories.
- Create and follow a daily routine that includes some form of exercise
- Stay social – participating in events with family and friends will help reduce your stress
- Eat healthily
- Stop smoking
- Sleep well
- Get in the habit of always putting things in the same spot – like hanging those keys on the hook when you’re not using them
- Put reminders in your calendar on your smart device
- When you meet someone new repeat their name several times in the conversation
- Use the same PIN number for your cards so you don’t have to stress over which PIN goes with which card
In Summary – Forgetting Things
Being a tad bit forgetful is normal at any age. But, when not remembering is impacting your daily life, this is a problem. Contact your medical professional immediately if you are worried your brain health is deteriorating more than you would like to admit. It is better to be on top of the matter than to let forgetting turn into dementia or Alzheimer’s. Take care of yourself.
We would love to hear from you. Do you have any tips for remembering things?