Memory: When Forgetfulness is Normal and When to Worry

Forgetting things is often normal, allowing us to move forward and make room for new information. Dr. Alexander Easton, Professor of Psychology at Durham University, explains how memory works and when forgetfulness should be a cause for concern.

When we remember something, our brain encodes, stores, and retrieves it. Forgetting can occur at any point in this process. We use our attention to filter information, primarily encoding the things we pay attention to. For example, failing to remember a name at a social event is common because we didn't encode it initially.

Practice is also important. Memories that we repeat last longer. We may forget specific details but remember the essence, such as forgetting where we parked the car but remembering the general area.

As people age, memory may weaken, but this is not always problematic. The overlapping of experiences can make it difficult to retrieve information. However, deep knowledge and intuition can compensate for memory gaps. Signs of concern include repeating questions or being unable to use familiar objects.

Forgetting the way in familiar areas is also worrying, as it indicates difficulty using environmental cues.

Source: ygeiamou.gr