Are you forgetting something?

by midlifecrisisqueen on September 14, 2009

I asked my husband this yesterday, on his brother’s 53rd birthday, and we all cracked up!

Why?  Because this has become the story of our lives!  We are all constantly wondering if we are forgetting something important.  You know that persistent niggling suspicion that you’ve forgotten an essential appointment or promise you’ve made.  Or that awful feeling you get when you forget the name of the person you were only introduced to seconds ago!

Here’s how aging changes your brain:

When you’re in your 20s, you begin to lose brain cells a few at a time. Your body slowly makes less of the chemicals your brain cells need to work. The older you get, the more these changes can affect your memory.

Aging may affect memory by changing the way the brain stores information and by making it harder to recall that information.  Your short-term and remote memories aren’t usually affected by aging, but your recent memory may be. For example, you may forget names of people you’ve met recently. These are normal changes.

Things to help you remember

  • Keep lists.
  • Follow a routine.
  • Make associations, such as using landmarks to help you find places.
  • Keep a detailed calendar.
  • Put important items, such as your keys, in the same place every time.
  • Repeat names when you meet new people.
  • Do things that keep your mind and body busy.
  • Get plenty of sleep!
My most irritating memory problem since my concussion last year is remembering words and how to spell them.  They can literally be on the tip of my tongue, but I have to wait a minute or two for my brain to get there.  I try running through the ABC’s in my head to help me think of some words.
Oh well, I guess I missed my chance to be on Jeopardy…I LOVE the game but most of the time I can picture the person they are asking about a minute or two BEFORE I can think of their name!

Tagged as: aging and memory, forgetfulness what's normal?, why do I forget everything?

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Lamonica Orpin March 10, 2010 at 9:27 am

Hi webmaster – This is by far the best looking site I’ve seen. It was completely easy to navigate and it was easy to look for the information I needed. Fantastic layout and great content! Every site should have that. Awesome job

midlifecrisisqueen March 10, 2010 at 12:01 pm

Thanks for noticing…can you tell I used to be a librarian? I AM organized in some parts of my life! Plus I hate all those flashing ads everywhere. How annoying!!! -Laura Lee

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