Why do I forget ?

The good news is that knowing that you forget is a positive sign of not having Dementia. Reasons for forgetting may be setting high expectations on how much you need to remember at all times, not being organised in taking notes and having planners to recall, brain fog created by illness or medication or could be a low or anxious mood. When we age our semantic memory of facts and knowledge increases but our working memory which involves bringing together the short-term memory, long term memory and higher cognitive functions, reduces.

A few good methods of enhancing your memory are:

1.      Lessening the load on your mind to remember by planning and noting down what you need to do.

2.      Taking notes of meetings and learning sessions.

3.      Delegating tasks so that you are not burdened with all the remembering.

4.      Active recall, repetition, visual landscape and pneumonic tools to remember.

5.      Sharpening your cognitive functions as you age by continuing to engage the mind with functions by playing games, Sudoku, reading, engaging in conversations and listening to music or podcasts.

One of the tell-tale signs of a person having Dementia is that they are not aware of the fact that they are forgetting. Other people will notice it and realise it. Dementia is caused when nerve cells are destroyed in the brain, leading to deterioration in cognitive function (i.e. the ability to process thought) beyond what might be expected from the usual consequences of biological ageing. While consciousness is not affected there may be changes in mood, emotions, behaviour, or motivation. This is often a deteriorating ailment. It is caused by physical trauma to the brain, vascular problems, nutrient deficiency, abnormal protein buildup in the brain, drug and alcohol and infections such as HIV. Treatment of Dementia requires medication, supervision and self care.