Forgetting someone's name is a common misstep. The structure of memory explains why you can often recognize the person's face and even come up with other details, such as where and how you met, but the name remains elusive. We are often only able to piece together elements from a past event.
However, it is important to realize that forgetting for a short period of time, even a well known friend's name, is not necessarily a sign of dementia. It can be a result of stress, lack of sleep, infection or even a medication interaction. In this case, forgetting names or appointments occasionally is normal.
There are many reasons for the social gaffe. Humans are good with recognising faces. The brain is quick to process facial features and make recognition quick, but not so much for remembering names. People need to be interested in making room in their already overloaded brain to retain the name.
Collective sigh of relief: It's probably nothing to worry about. “Not being able to recall a word or name is certainly annoying. But usually, that's all it is,” says Hartford HealthCare geriatrician Taimur Habib, MD. “For most people, it's not a sign of something worse.”
Normal age-related memory loss doesn't cause a significant disruption in your daily life. For example, you might occasionally forget a person's name, but recall it later in the day. You might misplace your glasses sometimes. Or maybe you need to make lists more often than in the past to remember appointments or tasks.
Our ability to remember new information peaks in our 20s, and then starts to decline noticeably from our 50s or 60s. Because the hippocampus is one brain region that continues producing new neurons into adulthood, it plays an important role in memory and learning.
The short answer is: yes. Research shows that there is a link between depression and memory loss, including confusion and forgetfulness. Symptoms of depression also make it challenging to focus and make good decisions.
For most people with Alzheimer's — those who have the late-onset variety — symptoms first appear in their mid-60s or later. When the disease develops before age 65, it's considered early-onset Alzheimer's, which can begin as early as a person's 30s, although this is rare.
Stage 2: Basic Forgetfulness
Very early stages of Alzheimer's can look like normal-aged forgetfulness. Your loved one might have memory lapses, including forgetting people's names or where they left their keys, but they can still drive, work and be social.
Honesty is the best policy. Say, “Of course, I remember you, but your name has slipped my mind.” Mention whatever information you do remember about them—“We met last year at John and Alice's party”—to show them that they're not a total stranger. Or simply say, “I'm sorry.
Difficulty remembering names? This is also a sign of inattention, a common symptom in ADHD. Many social issues follow adults with ADHD.
In studies of more than 350 men and women between the ages of 20 and 90, psychologist Denise Park found that normal memory loss in adults in their 20s and 30s affects their everyday lives in minor ways, such as forgetting a commonly used phone number or a person's name.
The Mini-Cog test.
A third test, known as the Mini-Cog, takes 2 to 4 minutes to administer and involves asking patients to recall three words after drawing a picture of a clock. If a patient shows no difficulties recalling the words, it is inferred that he or she does not have dementia.
Introduction: The five-word test (5WT) is a serial verbal memory test with semantic cuing. It is proposed to rapidly evaluate memory of aging people and has previously shown its sensitivity and its specificity in identifying patients with AD.
Dementia affects about 5 million adults over 65 years old in the United States. A new test you can take at home may help detect early symptoms of the disease. The test, known as SAGE, can be taken online or downloaded and completed at your doctor's office.
Studies show that children with ADHD have a significant deficit in working memory compared to their typically developing peers. Learning about what it means to have poor working memory is the key to understanding many of your child's challenges.
Dissociative amnesia is a disorder causing amnesic episodes that make a person forget important personal information, including, in severe cases, their identity. It often stems from extreme stress, childhood abuse, or another traumatic experience.
What is dissociative amnesia? Dissociative amnesia is a condition in which you can't remember important information about your life. This forgetting may be limited to certain specific areas (thematic) or may include much of your life history and/or identity (general).
The Self-Administered Gerocognitive Exam, known as SAGE, is a brief, pen-and-paper cognitive assessment tool designed to detect the early signs of cognitive, memory, or thinking impairments. The test evaluates your thinking abilities.
One part of the body affected by anxiety and stress is the nervous system, which plays a primary role in basic functions like memory and learning. As a result, persistent anxiety and memory loss are associated.
The clock-drawing test is a quick way to screen for early dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. It involves drawing a clock on a piece of paper with numbers, clock hands, and a specific time. The inability to do so is a strong indication of mental decline.