Quickly forgetting things

What do I notice when I forget things quickly?

As you get older, memory slows down a little. This is true for many people.

Examples include:

• You no longer remember phone numbers, whereas before you could easily do so.
• You cannot remember the name of someone you saw yesterday. Moments later, you remember again.
• You walk to the kitchen to get something, but there you don't remember what you are looking for. When you walk back, you remember again.
• You forget an appointment, but you know later that you had an appointment.

What other symptoms can I have if I forget things quickly?

In addition to problems with your memory, you may also experience other problems. For example, with your attention or with language. Things that used to be easy now become more difficult. Things you do every day sometimes go slower than you used to. Like housework, work and managing money.

Examples of other problems:

• In an environment you do not know very well, you may find it harder to find your way around than before.
• You can't come up with some words as easily.
• You need more time to solve a computer problem.
• You struggle to hold a conversation or write an e-mail.
• You are less able to keep your attention when doing something, such as cooking food.
• You can no longer find some products in the supermarket.

Why do you forget things faster?

Your memory can deteriorate with age. This happens to almost everyone. It can be made worse by:

• Stress or intense events, e.g. redundancy, your partner's illness or death. You mull more and your head is full, making it harder to remember.
• Gloom or depression
• Medications such as sleeping pills, drugs for depression, drugs for urine leakage or an enlarged prostate.
• Alcohol
• Drugs

When do you call the GP?

Call your GP on weekdays or make an appointment if one or more of these things are true:

• You think you might have dementia.
• You notice that your memory is rapidly deteriorating.
• You suffer from your symptoms in your daily life.
• Your symptoms are getting worse and it feels different from before.
• You have more problems with your memory than other people your age