Forgetting things: when to worry and why it happens

Do you ever walk into a room and ask yourself what you were looking for or have a name on the tip of the language without being able to pronounce it? If lately you find that you forget things more frequently, it is quite natural to wonder if there is a reason to be alarmed.

In the age of information overload, The fear of losing memories is an extremely widespread fear, but science reassures us: in the vast majority of cases, forgetfulness is not an irreversible defect, but a sophisticated defense mechanism of our brain or the simple symptom of too hectic days. Let's find out together why it happens, what are the real causes and when it is appropriate to investigate further.

Why do we forget the Things: The Science Behind Memory Lapses

Remember what's relevant and discard The rest: the brain works like this. Since 1885, with the famous curve of Hermann Ebbinghaus' oblivion, science has documented how decay of memories is a physiological and vital process.

A brain that never forgot would be paralyzed by the accumulation of useless information. It proves it the clinical case of Jill Price, a woman with hyperthymesia (memory autobiographical): for her, remembering every detail of her life is a a profoundly debilitating condition.

What are the seven sins of memory 

Harvard neuroscientist Daniel Schacter has grouped the small daily forgetfulness in a very accessible, describing the so-called "seven sins of the memory", demonstrating how universal they are:

1. There is transitivity, that is, the natural fading information over time, like when you forget the details of a movie seen months ago.
2. There is distraction, perhaps the most Common for those who live hectic days: you can't find the keys to the house simply because your attention was already on the next meeting when you put them down.
3. Then there's the block, that frustrating moment of "I have it on the tip of my tongue" in which the information There is, but you can't get a person's name.
4. Sometimes, the mind plays creative tricks: with attribution mistakenly remember an anecdote perfectly, but you are convinced that it has told a colleague instead of your partner.
5. Suggestibility leads us instead to Inserting false details into our memories just because someone has them suggested from the outside.
6. Distortion causes our emotions or beliefs of today alter the reconstruction of a past event.
7. Finally, there is persistence, or that annoying mechanism that prevents us from banishing a memory from our minds unpleasant or embarrassing that we would just like to "reset". As you see, These are not alarming signals, but physiological compromises of a brain constantly at work.

What are the causes of Memory problems? The everyday culprits

When we talk about memory lapses, Causes and culprits are very often hidden in our lifestyle. The good The news is that these are highly reversible factors.

 · Stress. Cortisol, the stress hormone, physically damages the hippocampus and impairs working memory. Between the ages of 30 and 50, chronic stress is by far the most common cause of daily distractions.

 · Sleep deprivation. It is during REM sleep that the brain consolidates information. Sleeping little or poorly abruptly interrupts this night rescue.

 Multitasking and cognitive overload. Doing too many things at once it destroys attention during the coding phase.

 · Dehydration. A slight dehydration (1-2% of the body weight) to reduce blood flow to the brain and fog up the mind.

 · Sedentary lifestyle. Moving stimulates BDNF, a protein that supports the birth of new neurons. Sitting all the time slows down this regeneration.

 · Diet deficient. The lack of micronutrients such as Omega-3, Vitamin B12, magnesium and zinc directly impacts the lucidity.

 · Alcohol and medications. Certain antihistamines or medications for sleep can momentarily interfere with short-term memory term. Always talk to your doctor without alarmism.

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When to worry if you They forget things 

Distinguishing between an oversight and an alert signal is essential to regain serenity. The rule is simple: forgetting where you put your car keys is normal, but forgetting what the keys are for is not. Forgetting the name of a acquaintance met on the street happens to everyone, but not recognizing the names of the Close family members require attention.

Here are some signs that The following deserve medical evaluation:

• Forgetfulness that prevent you from carrying out normal daily or work activities.
• Disorientation spatial or temporal repeated in very familiar places.
• Difficulty constant and progressive in following a conversation or finding words.
• Changes personality or behavior, often noticed by family members before the person concerned.

It is important to dispel a myth: a slight slowdown in information processing with the Passing the years is physiological and is not at all equivalent to dementia. Thanks to the cognitive reserve, built with education, social life and passions, our brain learns to compensate in an extraordinary way. In every case, if you have any doubts, contact your general practitioner with confidence: extra reassurance is always better than a silent worry.

Frequently asked questions about Forget things

Because when I enter a room I forget what I was supposed to do? 

This is a phenomenon known as the "threshold effect". The brain associates memories with the environment in which they were created. Crossing a door creates a cognitive cut that temporarily resets the memory of work.

It is normal to forget the words as I speak? 

Yes, the phenomenon "on the tip of language" is one of the most common transient defects of memory. It often happens when we are tired or stressed and the brain cannot temporarily retrieve information that you have.

Chronic stress can cause permanent memory damage?

Chronic stress reduces volume of the hippocampus and hinders the formation of new memories, but the brain is plastic. By adopting stress management techniques and reducing the levels of cortisol, memory functions can improve significantly.

How to understand if the Is forgetfulness related to age? 

Normal cognitive aging involves a slight slowdown in recovery time (it takes longer to remember a detail), but does not prevent you from living independently. If the oversights distort daily autonomy, it is advisable to consult a doctor.