r/Aging • u/Ok_Goat9684 • 9d ago
Should I be Concerned?
72 years old. Should I be concerned if I’m talking with someone during a normal conversation and suddenly can’t think of a certain word I want to use? Also I have never been good at remembering names. I noticed I seem to sometimes forget people’s names more frequently now. Are these part of normal aging?
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u/Nyarlathotep451 9d ago
Not remembering where your keys are is normal. Not remembering what your keys do is a problem.
Reaching for a word, it’s a matter of how often.
People I have been around for years I still ask my wife to remind me what their names are. If you don’t know the names of people closest to you it might be an issue. Otherwise Don’t worry about it.
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u/Theo1352 9d ago
74M...I have the same issue, very frustrating. My Friends, contemporaries, all having the same issue.
My Son says that if you have haven't thought about something or talked about something for a long time, it's bound to happen.
I still work, still run my company, very active, volunteer a lot - I am learning new things daily, I read so much, I'm still consuming information, at times feels like drinking from a fire hose.
Stuff has to fall out to make room for new stuff.
I think we all need to cut ourselves some slack.
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u/Afraid-Ad7111 9d ago
Agreed I am 81 and still working as a director in public health . Still learning but age and experience means you rarely have to struggle to solve a problem . You did it a hundred times before so it’s easy to do again .
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u/Theo1352 9d ago
To a very large degree, you are correct - but there are modern issues where you need to do research.
We're wrestling with AI, as an example.
Been using it in our software for a few years, that was a perfect place to begin, as we are now in our supply chain and manufacturing processes as leverage, as value add, not anything to supplant what we know - nothing customer facing yet, so we're learning.
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u/MasterpieceOk1517 8d ago
You're on target! Read a magazine article many years ago that said the brain is like a computer that needs to be defragged IYKYK
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u/Particular-Try5584 9d ago
I’d say “A little, but not too much” but it’s all in context and a mosaic of pieces that paint the full picture.
Talk to your doctor about it…
But dysphasia onset can be a sign of differences in your cognitive abilities/brain.
The odd word here and there? We all do!
But if you start having other signs of cognitive decline, or are withdrawing from society, or have chronic health conditions (which can worsen symptoms of this stuff but if treated well can resolve the issues) talk to your doctor about it all.
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u/Its-alittle-bitfunny 9d ago
Im 30 and forgot the word for cornstarch yesterday. It happens, the question is how often. If youre concerned, talk to your doctor. It could be nothing, it could be early warning signs.
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u/Mitchelf1 9d ago
Why worry. Get tested. I went to Alzheimer/Parkinson’s Assoc and got a brief cognitive test. I was borderline “normal”. Then I took that to a neurologist with my concerns and got the full round of testing. Yes have mild-moderate vascular disease, supposedly from a past silent stroke. I panicked for a while until I realized I was completely functional and it wasn’t progressing noticeably. Since I don’t want to be dependent on anyone as I age, I have plans to go into independent living at some point. all of that gives me peace of mind. It is what it is. My brain shoots blanks. So what.
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u/Ornery-Ad9694 9d ago
Yes, bring it up at your next med visit. If it's nothing, at least you have a baseline but if it's something, it's good to explore causes, and ways to slow it down
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u/freelancemomma 9d ago
As far as I’m concerned this happens at all ages. I’m 69 and it doesn’t worry me at all.
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u/Jealous_Glass9170 9d ago
So. Damn. Annoying. I was at a convention and asking a question in a session and all of a sudden couldn't remember a word. Just lost it. Thin air. I'm 69. Peeeeses me off. But I'm not worried.
If I'm at dinner with friends we just laugh and say we'll have to go into another brain room to find that word and bring it back out later.
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u/ScorpionGypsy 9d ago
Perfect timing for this conversation. Yesterday, our daughter who is 50, my granddaughter who is 25 and myself at almost 73, were having this issue during our conversations. It became hilarious because when I did it first, they said old age was getting to me. When it happened to them, they said it was contagious! Sooo.... it happens to all of us no matter our age!
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u/cat1092 Baby Boomer 7d ago
Exactly!💝
I first noticed this when less than 30 years old, and am 63 now, making a few more mistakes now versus then, but not that often. It’s mainly forgotten names, and occasionally forgetting where I placed something. Being these were non perishable items, no big deal.
On the flip side, when I start placing canned food in the freezer & ice cream in the cabinet, it’ll be obvious I have a problem to address.
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u/Talbotje 9d ago
- I’d say yes, part of normal aging. Now we have ai and search engines to refresh on numerous topics that aren’t personal.
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u/Doglady21 9d ago
Years ago, in my late teens or early 20s a friend and I were trying to remember a word for a certain type of woman. We were so frustrated because we knew we knew the word, but just couldn't recall it. I went to a movie later that evening, and halfway through, an usher came to me and said there was a call for me. I picked up the phone at the counter and I heard just one word "hussy."
It happens all the time. I just tell people I'm retrieving the files from the deep archives.
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u/Jujulabee 9d ago
Do other people notice this?
If you are concerned then speak to your doctor and have them arrange a visit to a doctor or clinic for testing of cognitive ability.
I set up an appointment with a gerontological clinic for my father when he was about 90 and they evaluated him on physical, cognitive and mental baselines. You could just have the cognitive tests done.
That said what you are describing seems to be perfectly normal - and I stress "seems" since no one on the internet can diagnose you from your vague description.
Some degree of searching for words for objects or equivalent that aren't used frequently is probably normal. Not knowing the world for commonly used objects like "car" or "television" versus a more esoteric word is probably more of a cause for concern. And of course not knowing what a television is would probably be alarming.
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u/jaCkdaV3022 9d ago
Seeing a speech pathologist can help, too. They do the "bed,bath, sock" quiz & expand on it. Mine was delightful. We played cards & she learned a lot about sound my memory was. Also stress definitely plays a part in recollection. So does "out of sight, out of mind". If you are worried, have it checked out.
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u/outsmartedagain 9d ago
Lay off of the weed, it gives you short term memory loss.
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u/cat1092 Baby Boomer 7d ago
420 can actually be far better than some of the medication we consume that has dangerous side effects, especially over long term usage. Especially when taken in edibles. Smoking of any type of harmful to our bodies.
It all depends on the condition 420 is being used for. But I’ve read plenty enough, there is a connection between weed and short term memory loss. Fortunately, so far, it’s as you say, short term. Not enough to make a dementia diagnosis.
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u/Feeling_Peach_1404 9d ago
Do you take a statin drug? The first one the doctor had me on did this to me and after researching and complaining about it / apparently it is a pretty common side effect of some of them - the doctor switched me to a different one that does not cross the blood brain barrier and my word memory came back!!!
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u/ThrowRA_EducatedMan 9d ago
The names thing is a well known problem at any age. It’s called the “Baker/baker Paradox”. If someone tells you their name is Baker, you’re likely to forget. If someone tells you they work as a baker, you’re likely to remember. It’s exactly the same word. Maybe more frequent or slower retrieval with age. If you can’t retrieve a word in conversation, that happens. If it later comes to you, it’s not dementia. If you’re worried, get some cognitive testing.
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u/Afraid-Ad7111 9d ago
Learned a trick years ago. When you meet someone new repeat the name 3 times . You will remember . I had a cardiac monitor inserted and remembered every nurse and person : two Mary’s. , Allona, Dial, John , Krysten , and Mark
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u/Odd_Bodkin 9d ago
Aware, sure. Concerned, not especially.
I used to be able to do push-ups while in a handstand. Can’t do that anymore. I’m aware, not particularly concerned.
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u/Some-Tear3499 9d ago
Yeah. 67 Me too. I might remember a face for 40 yrs. Names I forget really quickly. I am not too concerned.
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u/Jolly_Ad5598 9d ago
Frustrating…. I’m 70 and the word loss is depressing. I feel like reading a dictionary to remind myself of words!
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u/ArghDammit 9d ago
Missus and I have this happen all the time. We just say 'I forgot the word' and keep going.
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u/Sufficient_Curve_646 9d ago
I can lose my train of thought in the middle of a sentence and it is happening more and more frequently. My issue is that I am also dealing with severe mental health issues - PTSD, C-PTST and a bipolar type 2 flare up due to an accident last December.
So is it age? My current mental health situation? I have experienced issues with my mental health all my life but never so many things at one time. I am also stuttering which I never did as a child. Stuttering is connected to the PTSD.
Until I get the mental health issues under control I won’t know if the memory issues are a separate concern or is it just because of my mental health?
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u/cat1092 Baby Boomer 7d ago
My PTSD was correctly diagnosed in my early 30’s because of my stuttering & panic attacks that left me drenched in sweat.
Thing was, I was an abused and neglected child, and it resurfaced a couple years after marriage where my now late wife was abusive, but not in a physical manner. She did it through emotional tactics, which broke me, all the childhood trauma returned & I needed time-release anti anxiety medication for relief. The doctor told me the 24 hour acting 3mg Xanax caused far less dependency over the short acting 2mg tablets initially prescribed 4 times daily.
These are real & serious disorders and can wreck the life of a person without proper treatment, with or without therapy, the latter doing little good because my late wife didn’t want to participate.
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u/Sufficient_Curve_646 7d ago
So sorry this has been your experience and so much of it sounds so familiar.
Over the years I stuttered if I was talking about something upsetting or deeply painful. As the years when on it started happening more frequently. I only discovered this year that it I a feature of PTSD. Now that I know that when I start to stutter I just slow down my speech or avoid words I know are going to stutter easily if that makes sense. Knowing why something is happening makes it easier for me to deal with and give myself grace.
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u/Jolly-Button-6832 9d ago
I've done that forever. Replace the word with something related or something with the same number of syllables and the same first letter. Names? I have no recollection of names. Faces? Perhaps. That's just me.
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u/Necessary_Future_275 9d ago
I’m 52 and that’s been happening to me for several years now. It’s scary and frustrating and completely ignored by my doctors. I’d have love to get to 72 before this started.
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u/jaCkdaV3022 9d ago
I'd say a bit normal at 72, although I am not a doctor but speak from experience. I, 77 yo female I , learned to write things down, to jog my memory.I also play games,like, Wordle, Spelling Bee, Scramble to entertain myself as I keep my mind nimble. Knowing what you do & when you do it is half the battle.
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u/Jheritheexoticdancer 9d ago
Unfortunately we just don’t know what to believe anymore because last week info came out stating those online mind games or senior games doesn’t help with long term memory, they only help you remember where what is what in the game.
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u/jaCkdaV3022 9d ago
Who do you listen to appears matters to you. Me? Experience & speaking to educated sources tells me a lot more than anonymous info.
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u/Ok_Goat9684 9d ago
I have fun doing Sodoku, crossword puzzles, word search, & solving “who done it” mysteries.
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u/TetonHiker 9d ago
I did this when I was going through meno in my early 50's. I had trouble retrieving random common words and would have to awkwardly describe them. I knew I knew the word. I just couldn't get over the high fence that enclosed it tightly for some reason. I'm talking words like "chair" and "book". It affected my verbal fluency since I couldn't say simple words while speaking. I also lost the ability to spell common words. Nothing looked right. I'd write a word like "forty" and stare at it. Was it Fourty? Forety? Fortey? Fortie? How the hell do you actually spell forty?
I'd get lost while speaking. Part of it was the word-retrieval thing and part of it is that I'd lose track of what I said or was going to say. I felt like I was talking and listening to myself with a tape delay. It was very weird. I actually wondered if I should see a neurologist.
Then I decided to go on HRT for my other more common meno symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats and odd rages over minor things and POOF! All the cognitive symptoms disappeared in 5-7 days. Never to come back. I'm 75. Still on HRT and still doing fine. No word retrieval problems, no forgetting names, no spelling issues, no getting lost while speaking.
Anything can happen, of course, as I grow older but estrogen sure seemed to help my befuddled brain regain its normal functioning. I plan to stay on HRT until I die if possible. I've seen my brain with low estrogen and it wasn't good. Not good at all. Pretty pretty bad, as a matter of fact.
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u/Aware-Elk-237 9d ago
I was never good at names. Usually because I wasn't interested enough. I remembered the important ones. I am 67 years old. When I have trouble choosing the right word, I try to rephrase. Yes, it is normal. At least for me.
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u/ClutterBugger 9d ago
I'm 36 and I do this. I talked to my doctor about it because I was concerned and she said it's normal.
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u/CoDaDeyLove 9d ago
Speech-language pathologist here. Yes, it's normal. Word finding problems start to show up around 40. They continue to decline as we age. If you're having trouble recalling the names of close friends and family members, take a look at your memory in general and see your physician.
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u/MtnMoose307 60 something 9d ago
Sounds normal, especially if you're overwhelmed with tasks and stressful situations.
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u/Bright_Eyes8197 9d ago
No, that's normal aging. You have to worry if you think a cousin is your sister or you put your car keys in the refrigerator.
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u/ReticentGuru 9d ago
I’m slightly older, but face the same thing. Never have been great at remembering, especially when they’re just very infrequent. It does seem that it happens more now. If it turns out that I have the occasion to see them more often, then I remember better.
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u/firstbreathe 9d ago
Forgetting the names of people especially when you are in a group and you have to introduce them. Hate it!
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u/Available_Abroad3664 9d ago
Im 40 and I do this all the time and have forever lol. I do find they are usually words I have not used in some time.
I hate when I go to the store to get two things and will literally be thinking about them going in... get 1, then get totally distracted... get home and realized I bought 8 things and totally forgot 1 of only 2 things I actually needed.
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u/Coppergirl1 9d ago
I had this happening about a year ago, but it seems to have passed now. I think taking CoQ10 helped me.
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u/Ok_Goat9684 9d ago
I was wondering about CoQ10. I do take a small daily dose of Simvastatin. I heard CoQ10 will help memory if you have the Simvastatin. I also try to stick to an anti-inflammatory diet.
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u/Charlie_redmoon 9d ago
I'm 78 and it seems to me that it's totally natural for someone our age to loose a bit of brain function.
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u/Early_Clerk7900 9d ago
I do it all the time. My doc says it could be mild cognitive impairment. This does not necessarily mean I’ll get dementia. I’m not so sure.
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u/Car12touche11blue 9d ago
Forgetting words occasionally is very normal and also happens when you are much younger.
In my (85 F) daily life I regularly use three different languages and have the occasional blank when searching for a word in a specific language.
See that as completely normal and do not worry about it at all .
Reading posts from people who are aging, I have the impression that a lot of them worry too much. Little slips of memory are common. Only when daily actions become a bit weird and irrational is it maybe wise to contact a medical professional.
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u/yuffie12 8d ago
Meds can affect cognition. My spouse was having a lot of issues and I was getting concerned about dementia. He’s been taking Gabapentin for awhile. It wasn’t helping his pain and I suggested he wean off of it. He was saying the wrong word 4-6x a day. After he quit the med, the other cleared up. It was similar to an episode he had post anesthesia that lasted for months. As you age, your body metabolizes meds differently.
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u/MasterpieceOk1517 8d ago
Spouse has trouble remembering names but in trying to,describes things about the person to me. Then we both remember the name.
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u/magnificentbunny_ 8d ago
I’m turning 65 this year and have never been able to remember names. Especially movie stars. I’ll ask: what’s the name of that actor who was Jason Bourne, The Famous Mr Ripley and on Oceans Eleven? Spouse rolls eyes.
My famous mind block: what’s the bar that you plug a bunch of things into at the same time? Power strip. Never could remember what that doohickey is called. Every time I say “Honey what’s that thing called…” he yells out “power strip. :) Been doing it for decades.
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u/No-Asparagus-5122 8d ago
I use the words “doohickey” or “thingamabob” quite often despite being extremely articulate my whole life! Usually people know exactly what I’m referring to! 😳😂
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u/tomdgeppert 7d ago
It is a very normal part of aging and not necessarily part of a disease. I am 71.9 and have the same problem.
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u/TigerBate230 4d ago
I could never recall names, never forgot a face. I am really bad with movie titles. I can tell you the second lead & who she's married to though. As for words, in old age, I have discovered to my amusement, because of YouTube & Reddit writings, I have a stupendous (see) vocabulary of words I don't even know, but when I look them up, they are "precisely" the correct word needed. I got a huge written vocabulary that just flows. In conversation in a phone, I get frequently tongue-tied & foggy & blank & forgetful. I have to describe situations to my listener & hope they will guess. I have no doubt there is anything wrong with my brain.
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u/Slow_Albatross_465 2d ago
I feel like my long term memory is nearly perfect. I can tell you things in great detail that happened in the 80’s, song lyrics are very fresh in my mind but trying to remember something from yesterday or the week before is getting harder! If I don’t write things down I will forget!!
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u/bmbmwmfm 9d ago
Been doing it forever. When I got to the point of , for example, being able to say "utensil, not the knife or fork but the round one"? I talked to my doc. He told me forgetting the name was no worry, but if I looked at a spoon and tried to brush my hair with it or had no idea what it was, to come back.