Short-term memory, absolutely appalling….

Same - I’m 75 and so far decided I’m doing fine

And me! I remember a lot from many years ago, but, having said that, there are many things of which I have absolutely no recollection. A conversation the other day revealed that I have absolutely no memory of bringing baby number 3 home from hospital!

Me too and also well known names disappear completely out my head then return an hour, or a day, or a week later
I was worried but all my similar aged friends say the same
thing, also they say if you have dementia you don’t know you have it so if you’re worried you have it, you probably havent got it
Well that’s my story and I m sticking to it 🤣

My dad has this and went to the doctor about it. He told dad it was called Benign senile forgetfulness and most older people get it to some extent. I find I'm the same and I'm 66.

Very familiar daily occurrences 😂

Mine is very poor. If I have a wine it is even worse. I also had it checked and was told not to worry because all the other tests I had to do were absolutely normal. Getting old sucks, big time.

Me too and I’m 66. It’s rather annoying!

Same here but I always say “ It’s ok to loose your keys as long as when found , you know what to do with them”

Same here. I'm 75.

BlueBelle

Me too and also well known names disappear completely out my head then return an hour, or a day, or a week later
I was worried but all my similar aged friends say the same
thing, also they say if you have dementia you don’t know you have it so if you’re worried you have it, you probably havent got it
Well that’s my story and I m sticking to it 🤣

It's names with me too. I find going through the alphabet helps sometimes.
Or I'll wake up in the middle of the night and remember them.

The odd thing is I can remember the names of my children's playgroup friends from years ago even though I rarely see them.

And me! I go to do something, like getting cutlery out of a drawer, only to realise I did it 5 minutes ago! Quite alarming. I’m 77.

It’s why I can’t do a pub quiz. I do know a lot of the answers but only remember them after the host has moved on to other questions.

Nothing to stop you speaking to your GP, they may be able to give reassurance.

I was always told if you think you have memory loss then you don't! People with dementia don't realise they can't function in the same way and is usually pointed out to them by others.

Same here😣I had a blood test last week and was asked which arm I wanted, resisting the urge to tell her I liked having two arms I said the left one please and held out my right arm😄

DP says he’s told me things and sometimes I do vaguely remember the conversation and sometimes not.
I told Mum last night that next Tuesday is pancake day, so to make some for lunch and I’ll come round, only to see in my diary that it’s March 4th not Feb 4th.I haven’t decided yet if I’ll tell her, I love pancakes😈

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I assume that you are concerned about dementia but memory loss is a small part of that. Being unable to reason, follow a plot etc are the worrying things from that point of view really.

My short term memory is shocking too.

Yep, totally recognisable (I'm 76). For me, it's like going through the menopause all over again, only not so bad (yet) and without the libido problems.

I email a friend each evening to exchange news of what we've done during the day. I quite often have to think very hard to remember!

Also, I often have to look back through those sent emails to help me what I've done during the week, when emailing other friends.

I suggest keeping a very basic diary and jotting down the main events of the day as they happen: e.g. dentist, parcel from x arrived, y phoned, coffee with z...

It's a comfort to know others are experiencing the same thing. I've had an awful foreboding I'm in early onset dementia. I think the worst thing is not being able to think of the words I want to use or seeing a person in my head, but not being able to think of their name. I did see the doctor and I've has blood tests and a CT scan of my head and they came back ok but she still wants me to go to a memory clinic for further tests. So the fear is still haunting me, or why wouldn't she just tell me not to worry, it's just old age, I'm 67

Skydancer

It’s why I can’t do a pub quiz. I do know a lot of the answers but only remember them after the host has moved on to other questions.

I'm quite good at shouting the answers at the TV if there's a quiz programme on.

Not so much University Challenge these days, nor Only Connect (although occasionally I do see connections the contestants miss).

I’m terrible with names as well.

I met four new people at a U3a group leaders’ meeting yesterday and had to look up their names on the website as soon as I got home.

merlotgran

I’m terrible with names as well.

I met four new people at a U3a group leaders’ meeting yesterday and had to look up their names on the website as soon as I got home.

I was introduced to four new people at a group a couple of weeks ago but could I remember their names two minutes later.
However, I met someone in the supermarket yesterday after many years and immediately recognised him, couldn't remember his name but remembered his DD's name although I hadn't seen her since she was about 4.

I sometimes think our brains get full up and can't take in any more!

Before someone comes along and starts explaining the immense capacity of the human brain - yes I do know! Perhaps we dismiss what we think is unimportant.

You’re not alone…

This is so common it seems; we have so much information between our ears that it can take a while to sift through - like an overstuffed filing cabinet. I thought the comforting answer was that if you know you are forgetting, there isn't much to worry about - it's when everyone else is aware of your forgetfullness and you are oblivious. Please, please don't disillusion me, anyone.

Ironically, I am usually in charge of writing name badges for people who come to our monthly Memory Cafe.

That's a bit embarrassing.