Is it normal to forget how old you are

But even before that happens, stress or anxiety can cause memory difficulties in the moment. But simple stress management techniques can minimize these harmful effects. Get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation reduces the growth of new neurons in the hippocampus and causes problems with memory, concentration, and decision-making.

It can even lead to depression—another memory killer. Watch what you eat. Eating too many calories, though, can increase your risk of developing memory loss or cognitive impairment. Exercise regularly. Starting a regular exercise routine , including cardio and strength training, may reduce your risk of developing dementia by up to 50 percent.

New research indicates that walking six to nine miles every week can prevent brain shrinkage and memory loss. Just as physical exercise can make and keep your body stronger, mental exercise can make your brain work better and lower your risk of mental decline.

Try to find brain exercises that you find enjoyable. The more pleasurable an activity is to you, the more powerful its effect will be on your brain.

Authors: Melinda Smith, M. American Psychiatric Association. Neurocognitive Disorders. National Institute on Aging. Understanding Memory Loss. National Institutes of Health. Livingston, G. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: report of the Lancet Commission.

The Lancet, , — National Academies of Sciences, E. Morris, M. MIND diet slows cognitive decline with aging. McEvoy, C. The chart below explains some differences between normal signs of aging and Alzheimer's. If you, a family member, or friend has problems remembering recent events or thinking clearly, talk with a doctor.

He or she may suggest a thorough checkup to see what might be causing the symptoms. You may also wish to talk with your doctor about opportunities to participate in research on cognitive health and aging. At your doctor visit, he or she can perform tests and assessments, which may include a brain scan, to help determine the source of memory problems. Your doctor may also recommend you see a neurologist, a doctor who specializes in treating diseases of the brain and nervous system.

Memory and other thinking problems have many possible causes, including depression , an infection, or medication side effects. Sometimes, the problem can be treated, and cognition improves. Other times, the problem is a brain disorder, such as Alzheimer's disease , which cannot be reversed. Finding the cause of the problems is important for determining the best course of action. You forget where you just put your pen because you didn't focus on where you put it in the first place.

You were thinking of something else or, perhaps, nothing in particular , so your brain didn't encode the information securely. Absentmindedness also involves forgetting to do something at a prescribed time, like taking your medicine or keeping an appointment. Someone asks you a question and the answer is right on the tip of your tongue — you know that you know it, but you just can't think of it.

This is perhaps the most familiar example of blocking, the temporary inability to retrieve a memory. In many cases, the barrier is a memory similar to the one you're looking for, and you retrieve the wrong one.

This competing memory is so intrusive that you can't think of the memory you want. Scientists think that memory blocks become more common with age and that they account for the trouble older people have remembering other people's names.

Research shows that people are able to retrieve about half of the blocked memories within just a minute. Misattribution occurs when you remember something accurately in part, but misattribute some detail, like the time, place, or person involved.

Another kind of misattribution occurs when you believe a thought you had was totally original when, in fact, it came from something you had previously read or heard but had forgotten about. This sort of misattribution explains cases of unintentional plagiarism, in which a writer passes off some information as original when he or she actually read it somewhere before.

As with several other kinds of memory lapses, misattribution becomes more common with age. As you age, you absorb fewer details when acquiring information because you have somewhat more trouble concentrating and processing information rapidly. And as you grow older, your memories grow older as well. And old memories are especially prone to misattribution. Suggestibility is the vulnerability of your memory to the power of suggestion — information that you learn about an occurrence after the fact becomes incorporated into your memory of the incident, even though you did not experience these details.

Exercising can help prevent memory loss and preserve brain health long into your 90s. Eat healthy Previous studies suggest a Mediterranean diet is linked with longer preservation of memory. This diet consists of plant-based foods, whole grains, and fish—as well as less red and processed meats. It's OK to forget things from time to time, but if you or a loved one has concerns about memory loss, it's important to consult with a doctor.

They'll be able to investigate if those lapses are a sign of something more serious. Skip to content. Q: What memory changes are considered normal as I age? Patrick D. Lyden, MD. Q: When should I seek help? Q: What can harm my memory or make it worse?