Starting to have trouble remembering

debodun

debodun

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Location
way upstate in New York, USA
Especially when seeing a movie or reading a book. I have trouble remembering characters and plots. If it's a movie I've seem before - less trouble, but a new view is totally confusing. Every character looks the same and I keep wondering what is trying to be accomplished. With a book, if there more than 3 characters, I can't follow them through the plot. I also find myself re-reading page after page because I forget what's happening or who is this person. I'll turn 63 in April - should I be concerned?
 

We all have some short time memory loss as we age. I wouldn't worry unless it starts to be unsafe somehow. I forget too, most do.
 
Oh don't worry I'm still in my 50's and I forget the characters in books all the time..I keep having to go back and re-read previous pages it to see who is who..
 

I worry about my memory as well. And I don't like books with too many characters to keep track of. I'll be 63 in a couple of weeks. My husband's memory is not great either, he's 66. We were binge watching a series last week and he asked me about something in it when it was just explained near the end of the previous episode about 1/2 hour earlier.

I'm very bad with remembering names as well.

I've read that if you can't remember where you put your car keys, that's normal. But if you find the keys and can't remember what to do with them, then worry.
 
I'm useless with Faces ( I have to see a person many times before I recognise them out of context) , and telephone numbers...and I cannot hold onto any info regarding technology, but then that's always been the same. I can however remember stupid things like random birth-dates of people I barely know.. and I'm good at remembering people's names
 
I think we remember what is important to us. As far as books go, when reading a well written book, you forget it is a book and you become lost in the story. Some novels are really two or even three books in one.

Walking through a doorway, triggers an event boundary, allowing your brain to "clear the decks" and get ready for the next event. When we walk through two or three doors.....forget it!

As we age, we normally narrow our interests instead of widening them. It is an effort that we must try our best to make, to build new brain cells! Ahhhh the challenges of aging! HAHA!

health-beauty-brain_scan-brain-forgets-forgetful-scans-mban2050_low.jpg
 
I experienced quite a noticeable memory loss in my early 60's, but my memory hasn't gotten markedly worse over the ensuing twenty years. Maybe I've just learned to compensate better, maybe its all those expensive supplements I've been taking.
 
I think Meanderer is right, we usually remember the things most important to us. I too sometimes have trouble following a movie plot, or remembering specific movie titles or actors, etc. There are things though that happened in my younger years, that are very clear in my memory, good or bad.

Since I had an aunt who died from Alzheimer's, I've been noticing more about memory issues as I age. But honestly, I forgot a lot of things when I was younger and working, and just blew it off to multi-tasking, being preoccupied or plain spacing out. Only as I neared my 60s did I start to think twice about any forgetfulness, regardless of how petty.

I agree with Ameriscot, if you find your keys and are unsure what to do with them, that's a big red flag. I take many supplements, including things like virgin coconut oil daily for brain health and memory. I personally prefer to try to prevent such demetia issues if I can.

Exercise is also good for the brain, and overall well-being. I always figured old people had trouble remembering things, that's expected as far as I'm concerned, it's forgetting who you are, where you are, or who your spouse is that deeply troubling. My heart goes out to all who suffer with AD, and their families.

When I'm at the gym I'll use different lockers, use different number codes, and sometimes take different routes to usual places I go to, like stores, etc. Getting out of a rut, and doing things differently than normal is always good to help you stay aware.
 
I've read that exercise helps prevent dementia as it keeps oxygen and blood flowing, so I'm good on that front.

I watched my dad turn into a helpless baby with dementia. Scares the crap out of me that my husband or I could get like that.
 
Sometimes I have to go into another room to get or do something and by the time I get there, I forget what it was! Sometime if I go back to where I thought of it, I can remember, but not always.
 
Same here debodun...I do it all the time, get upstairs, forget what I went for..go back downstairs, remember it, then go back up get distracted and forget again...**doh**
 
debodun said:
Especially when seeing a movie or reading a book. I have trouble remembering characters and plots. If it's a movie I've seem before - less trouble, but a new view is totally confusing. Every character looks the same and I keep wondering what is trying to be accomplished. With a book, if there more than 3 characters, I can't follow them through the plot. I also find myself re-reading page after page because I forget what's happening or who is this person. I'll turn 63 in April - should I be concerned?
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I'm getting the same way and I'm only 60 this spring. Used to have a great memory. My husband said that if I find my keys or shoes in the fridge, then I should worry:playful:. (He's had a lousy memory all his life, so what you are describing is the norm for him which is probably why he said that)
 
hollydolly said:
Same here debodun...I do it all the time, get upstairs, forget what I went for..go back downstairs, remember it, then go back up get distracted and forget again...**doh**
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You know how I handle the aggravation of what you describe hollydolly? I just tell myself "10,000 steps, 10,000 steps.. That's a reference to the suggestion that we need to walk 10,000 steps a day for health. So maybe this is our bodies way of taking care of our health even when our brains are failing:D
 
You're not going to believe this Debby, but I do exactly the same thing...although I say 2000 instead of 10, 000, and really believe that it's doing my body good to forget things so I can get the exercise...:lol1:
 
Jackie22 said:
I'm more forgetful as I get older too.....I make list after list, then forget the list.
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Aye! I have a white board nailed to the inside of the pantry door in the kitchen where I write down things to buy as I run out or think of something. The desktop on my computer has those sticky notes and I use those a lot. And then of course paper notes and shopping lists.
 
Memory loss is associated with aging, but that a good question. How much memory loss is appropriate for our age? I feel like I cant remember what I had to eat a few weeks ago and feel this is normal. The important things in life I still feel like I remember for now, but the hardships I have experienced tend to be erased due to the bodies natural coping mechanism that tries to suppress unwanted memories. If you feel that you are having more than normal age related memory loss I would definitely bring that up with your physician so they can give you a proper assessment and help you find a solid way to monitor and manage your memory progression over time.
 

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