Do You Worry You Are Losing Your Memory?

[Barsel]

I've never worried until recently, I've always thought my memory was good, but just recently I've realised I can't remember names of songs or singers, faces of famous people etc and I find it worrying. I know I know the answers but the answers just won't come to mind.
Is this how dementia starts?

[Arksided]

I do sometimes go into a room and forget what I've gone in there for, but do believe that's quite common.

Ken, Funny but its Montserrat I'd have to have checked the spelling for.

[Barsel]

Ratter ///Barsel, if you were to forget the names of your close family members, sons and daughters, parents, etc. I would be more concerned,///
I haven't done that (yet) but if I did, I would again put it down to lack of concentration.
There are many things I would forget if I didn't write them in a diary or a calendar which is what I do, but there's nothing I can do to help me remember names. Or is there?

[AuntPG]

Its useful to challenge your brain Barsel with word games and logic. This site is very good and has the effect of concentrating your mind away from things you may be dwelling. Have a go on Word Drop -see if you can beat me!
https://dkmgames.com/

[Barsel]

DTC ///Can I ask a strange question - have you ever had any form of Obsessive Complusion Disorder (OCD)?......///
I do, yes. My family tell me it's worse than I think it is, and I can also tell you I'm a worrier. I worry about things I know others wouldn't worry about.
Is there a connection?

[teacake44]

If you don't forget whats in your bank account your fine.

[Barsel]

Thanks for the link APG. I must admit I'm not one for crosswords and puzzles, never done Sudoku in my life.
Perhaps I should buy something with crosswords in it, the only one I do is in the TV Choice and I've even struggled with that lately!

[SparklyKid]

I am 76 and short term memory is shocking. I remember stuff from decades ago but cannot remember what I had for dinner yesterday.

Quite normal.

[choux]

I do agree with DTC and APG. The mind is a wonderful thing and I always think "use it or lose it". Puzzles, crosswords, whatever it takes I enjoy them. I am often awake for hours in the night and I watch multi episodes of quiz programmes asking about general knowledge, trying to think of the answers as quickly as I can. Speed of recall is just as important to me as being able to get the right answers.

A while ago I couldn't remember the name of someone I was thinking about from the dim and distant past. I got a notebook out and listed various stages of my life per page and then worked my way through them writing down names as I concentrated - some of which I had not thought of in many a year (or decade, even).

It pleased me when I had finished how easily I had remembered names the more I concentrated on the task. All the information was there and it just needed teasing out. In the end I found I could recall their addresses and phone numbers, would you believe it?!

[teacake44]

^^ What did you have for dinner yesterday?

[choux]

Pasta carbonara and it was home made so, naturally, delicious :)

[pat2604]

Barcel, I wrote you a much longer screed about it after my first answers and then thought I posted it. Obviously not! Dementia! ;O). At present I am involved with social services because a good friend of 40 years, but with no family to help, has developed dementia and forgetting names ,etc is not the main problem. It's far more complex. I did write that Covid and self isolating hasn't helped us with elderly natural aging problems because some of us have not, or not been able to, keep our brains active, myself included. I have noticed my memory is worse now than it was just a year ago. I am in my mid 70s too and so is my husband. Our conversations are sometimes weird and wonderful. Lots of whatshisnames, thingermejigs, etc, etc. Don't worry! As I have found out worry is the worst thing you can do to help retain your brain health. X

[gingejbee]

The one person I know that has vascular dementia has a fantastic memory for places/people/events from 70 years ago but an absolutely appalling one for the last few hours/days. She can ask the same question several times within several minutes - it's quite alarming.

[dannyk13]

No, now what was the question?

[Barsel]

pat I did wonder if Covid has had a part to play in this, and I suppose it probably has as you yourself said, it has affected you too.
I took a little break to phone someone who I know who is in her early 90's , and it was interesting to hear her say also that she feels her memory has deteriorated during Covid. and she put this down to shielding (which we both had to do) and of course not seeing other people, we both live alone.
Hopefully, if and when we ever get back to normal, this will probably help.
Thanks to all of you for your answers.
I'm hoping DTC will come back to this thread to tell me if there is a connection to OCD.
Got to go shopping now (yes, I have a list!) but will pop in later.

[bobbinwales]

//i must admit to Googling for the correct spelling of her Christian name //
Ken, did you forget to check spelling of her surname too (Caballé), lol.
I used to be good at things like Pop Master quiz and Question of Sport but recently have been forgetting names I would of known instantly a year ago, and I keep forgetting my neighbours common surname and have to keep googling it from his company name on his van

[Bobbisox1]

Mines still as sharp as a pin thank God, it works as a positive but there are some things I’d rather not remember that happened like it was yesterday

[jno]

well, it might be an early sign, but much more likely it's just a sign of getting old. I forgot a word last night... and now I can't even remember why, let alone what it was.

If there's a useful word I forget more than once, I make a note of it on my computer for future reference.

[pat2604]

Jno, I forget words mid sentence. I used to worry which made it even more difficult to remember and then suddenly remember them later for no apparent reason they come to me right out of the blue - not much use!!

[Ken4155]

Bobinwales; i know how to spell her surname - i blame my dementia for putting an 'e' instead of the 'a' :-) And how do you get the ' above the 'e'?

[woofgang]

I have no idea but I have been like it since I was about 14 and am now in my sixties, so In my case I don't think its dementia. At work I could never remember my patients' names and used to describe them by their garden plants and their pets....My colleague was even worse, she would say "oh you must know who I mean, she's the lady with the white hair and the walking stick" We worked in elderly care so this wasn't exactly helpful!