Key Takeaways
- Occasionally forgetting a name or misplacing keys and later remembering is typical with age; memory loss that disrupts daily life is not.
- Sudden confusion, or memory problems with face drooping, weakness or slurred speech, is an emergency: call 911.
- Depression, stress, medications, alcohol, low vitamin B12 and poor sleep can all affect memory, and many of these are treatable.
- Primary care is the usual first stop; neurology or a memory clinic handles suspected MCI or dementia, and a psychiatric provider helps when mood, anxiety or sleep are part of the picture.
Everyone forgets things. The question is whether the forgetting is the ordinary kind or a change worth checking. Ordinary forgetting tends to be occasional, and the information comes back later. A pattern worth checking is new, keeps happening, and starts to get in the way of daily life, especially if other people notice it too. This guide covers the difference, the warning signs that need care today, the treatable causes that are easy to miss, and who to see first. It does not replace an examination, but it can help you decide on the next step.
Everyday forgetting versus a pattern worth checking
MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine's consumer site, puts it plainly: normal aging can bring some forgetfulness and a need for more time to learn or recall new things, but it does not lead to dramatic memory loss. The Alzheimer's Association pairs each early warning sign of dementia with the typical age-related change it can be confused with. A shortened version:
| Worth checking | Typical with age |
|---|---|
| Forgetting recently learned information, asking the same questions over and over, relying more and more on notes or family | Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later |
| Trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills | Occasional errors managing finances |
| Trouble driving to a familiar place or remembering the rules of a favorite game | Occasionally needing help with microwave settings or recording a show |
| Losing track of dates, seasons or how you got somewhere | Getting confused about the day of the week, then figuring it out |
| Stopping mid-conversation with no idea how to continue; calling objects by the wrong name | Sometimes having trouble finding the right word |
| Putting things in unusual places and being unable to retrace steps | Misplacing things now and then and retracing steps to find them |
The other signs on the Association's list are poor judgment, withdrawal from work or social life, trouble with visual and spatial information, and changes in mood or personality. One or two of these, noticed by you or by someone close to you, is a reason to book an appointment rather than wait.
When it can't wait
Call 911 or go to emergency care if…
MedlinePlus describes delirium as sudden, severe confusion caused by rapid changes in brain function during a physical or mental illness. It is common in older adults who are unwell, and its causes include infections such as urinary tract infections or pneumonia, medication effects, withdrawal from alcohol or sedatives, and severe lack of sleep. It is often temporary and reversible when the cause is treated, which is exactly why a rapid change in thinking should be seen the same day rather than written off as aging.
Stroke is the other reason for speed. MedlinePlus uses the F.A.S.T. check (face, arms, speech, time) and is clear that the most important action is to call 911 right away.
Common, treatable reasons memory slips
Memory is sensitive to the rest of your health. MedlinePlus lists many causes of memory trouble that are not dementia, and several are common and treatable:
- Depression, stress and trauma. Memory problems can follow a major stressful or traumatic event and occur with depression and bipolar disorder. Depression slows thinking and makes it hard to concentrate long enough to store new information. Our page on cognitive symptoms of depression goes into this.
- Medications and alcohol. Alcohol, prescription medicines and overuse of sedatives, opioids or sleep medications can blunt memory. Our page on medications that can cause brain fog lists the usual suspects. Never stop a medication on your own; ask the prescriber.
- Low vitamins. Low levels of vitamin B1 or B12 can affect memory, and a simple blood test can check. See how low vitamin D or B12 affects mood and thinking.
- Medical conditions. Thyroid disorders, infections and other illnesses can affect thinking; our guide to medical conditions that mimic mental illness covers the overlap.
- Sleep. In a large online study of more than 10,000 people, those who slept about four hours a night performed worse on overall cognition, roughly like being eight years older. Short-term memory specifically was not affected in that study, a reminder that sleep loss and memory loss are not the same thing.
If depression is part of what you are feeling and you have thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 any time.
What mild cognitive impairment means
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) sits between normal aging and dementia. MedlinePlus, drawing on the National Institute on Aging, describes it as having more memory problems than other people your age while still being able to take care of yourself and do your normal activities. Examples include losing things often, forgetting to go to events and appointments, and having more trouble finding words than peers.
Three points are worth holding on to. First, some causes of MCI-like symptoms, including certain medicines and conditions affecting blood flow to the brain, can be managed or reversed. Second, MCI may be an early sign of Alzheimer's disease, so MedlinePlus advises seeing your clinician every 6 to 12 months to track changes. Third, there is currently no proven drug treatment for MCI itself, which makes finding and treating the reversible contributors more important, not less.
Who to see first, and who comes next
| Situation | Usual starting point | Why |
|---|---|---|
| New memory changes, especially after 60 | Primary care clinician | Physical exam, medication review, blood tests (thyroid, B12, others) and a brief memory screen |
| Abnormal screen, steady decline, trouble with daily tasks, or new neurological symptoms | Neurology or a memory clinic | Evaluation for MCI and dementia, brain imaging, specialist follow-up |
| Memory complaints alongside low mood, anxiety, grief, poor sleep or a medication change | Psychiatric provider (with primary care) | Treating depression, anxiety and sleep can improve thinking; medication review |
| A detailed question: normal aging or disease, effects of a brain injury, documentation | Neuropsychologist | In-depth testing and an integrated report |
| Sudden confusion, stroke signs, head injury | Emergency care (911) | Time-sensitive medical causes |
These paths often overlap. A primary care clinician may refer to neurology and also suggest treating depression; a neurologist may ask for neuropsychological testing. Our comparison of brief computerized assessment and full neuropsychological evaluation explains how the depth of testing differs.
Where cognitive testing fits, and what it can't settle
What a computerized assessment like Creyos can and can’t do
It can
- Measure short-term memory, reasoning, concentration and verbal ability against people your age
- Give a starting point to compare with later results
- Add structure to a conversation about concentration and memory complaints
It can’t
- Diagnose MCI, Alzheimer's disease or another dementia
- Explain why a score is low (mood, sleep, hearing, effort and illness all matter)
- Replace a medical workup, imaging or a neurology referral
Testing comes in three broad levels. Brief screens such as the MoCA or Mini-Cog take a few minutes in a doctor's office; our page on Creyos versus the MoCA and other memory screens compares them. Computerized batteries such as Creyos take longer and report a profile of scores; our Creyos guide explains what it measures. Creyos is registered and listed with the FDA as a Class II, 510(k)-exempt computerized cognitive assessment aid; it is not FDA-cleared or approved and does not diagnose any condition. Full neuropsychological evaluations are the most detailed.
Testing is most useful when there is a real concern to investigate. For older adults without symptoms, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force concluded in 2020 that there is not enough evidence to judge whether routine screening helps or harms. Creyos's own guide notes that unexpectedly low results may call for referral to a neuropsychologist or neurologist, which is a reminder that a score starts a process rather than ending it.
How to prepare for the appointment
MedlinePlus notes that clinicians evaluating memory loss usually ask family members and friends what they have noticed. You will get more out of the visit if you bring:
- Specific examples written down: what was forgotten, when, and how it affected the day.
- A timeline. Did it start suddenly or gradually? Is it getting worse, staying the same or fluctuating?
- Every medication and supplement, including over-the-counter sleep and allergy products, with any recent changes.
- Someone who knows you well, in person or on the phone, who can describe changes you may not notice.
- Glasses and hearing aids, so the visit measures memory rather than vision or hearing.
- Notes on mood, sleep, alcohol and stress, since each can affect memory.
If you are considering Willow & Stone
Willow & Stone is a psychiatric practice led by Dr. Stacey Forbes, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner, seeing patients 10 and older in person in Arlington, Texas, and by telehealth. It is not a memory clinic and does not do neuropsychological testing or dementia evaluations. Whether a visit with us is the right first step for your particular memory concern is something to ask our team before booking; for some people it will be, especially when depression, anxiety, sleep or medications seem to be driving the problem, and for others primary care or neurology should come first.
For older adults, our guides to safer psychiatric medication after 65 and depression and anxiety in later life are good next reads.
Common Questions
Is it normal to forget words as you get older?
Sometimes having trouble finding the right word is a typical age-related change, according to the Alzheimer's Association. It is more concerning when someone regularly stops mid-conversation without being able to continue, repeats themselves, or calls familiar objects by the wrong name. If word-finding problems are new and frequent, mention them to your clinician.
At what age should I get a memory test?
There is no single age. For adults 65 and older with no symptoms, the USPSTF found the evidence insufficient to recommend for or against routine screening. Medicare's Annual Wellness Visit includes a check for cognitive impairment. If you or people close to you have noticed changes, that is the time to ask, whatever your age.
Can depression cause memory loss?
Yes. MedlinePlus lists depression, bipolar disorder and major stress among causes of memory problems. Depression slows thinking and concentration, and memory often improves as mood improves. Depression in older adults can also be an early sign of dementia, so a clinician may follow both over time.
Can mild cognitive impairment be reversed?
Sometimes. MedlinePlus notes that some memory problems caused by certain medicines or conditions affecting blood flow to the brain can be managed or reversed. MCI may also be an early sign of Alzheimer's disease, so regular follow-up every 6 to 12 months is recommended. There is currently no proven drug treatment for MCI itself.
What kind of doctor should I see for memory problems?
Start with your primary care clinician, who can review medications, order blood tests and do a brief screen. Neurologists and memory clinics evaluate suspected MCI and dementia. A psychiatric provider helps when mood, anxiety, sleep or medications are involved. A neuropsychologist provides detailed testing when the question needs it.
Is there an online memory test I can trust?
Free online quizzes can be interesting, but they are not a substitute for an evaluation, and many are not validated. Clinical tools such as Creyos are given through a clinician, who interprets the results in context. Our guide to free online cognitive tests explains what to look for and what to be wary of.
Part of our Creyos cognitive assessment guide
- The Creyos Cognitive Assessment: Complete Patient Guide
- Creyos vs MoCA, MMSE, SLUMS & Mini-Cog Memory Screens
- Depression and Anxiety in Later Life: A Guide for Older Floridians and Their Families
- Psychiatric Medication for Older Adults: Safer Choices and Deprescribing
- Creyos vs Neuropsychological Testing: Key Differences
Sources & Further Reading
- Alzheimer's Association — 10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer's and Dementia
- MedlinePlus — Memory loss
- MedlinePlus — Mild Cognitive Impairment
- MedlinePlus — Delirium
- MedlinePlus — Stroke
- USPSTF — Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults: Screening (2020)
- Wild et al. 2018, Sleep — Sleep duration and cognition in more than 10,000 people (PubMed)
This article is general education, not a diagnosis or advice for your situation. Creyos results support, and never replace, a clinical evaluation; only a clinician who has evaluated you can diagnose a condition or recommend treatment. Do not start, stop, or change a medication without talking to the clinician who prescribes it.
If you need help right now
Willow & Stone is an outpatient practice and is not an emergency service. If you or someone you care about is in immediate danger, call 911.
For urgent mental health support at any hour, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or text HOME to 741741 for the Crisis Text Line. Both are free, confidential, and available 24/7 nationwide.
Dr. Stacey Forbes, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and founder of Willow & Stone Integrative Mental Health. Nearly two decades of clinical experience; integrative, root-cause psychiatry in person in Arlington and by telehealth. Licensed in Texas, New Mexico, Florida, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado & Washington.
About Dr. Forbes →