When age truly catches up, you start developing memory issues. Yes, from forgetting what exactly you opened the fridge door for to not being able to recall your neighbour’s name the second time you see them. But, just like all the other organs in your body, your brain changes with time, too. To find out that you are facing memory issues can be troubling—both mentally and physically. It could be scary, and you might just end up stressing yourself out more thinking that one day, soon, you will lose your memory.
But could these brain lapses be something normal and a part of ageing, or are these signs of something serious, and should you be worried? Speaking with Time, neurologist Dr Daniel Lesly said that paying less attention to details and finding it difficult to access things quickly like names and certain words, are all part of normal ageing. Instead, he reveals that with age, we pay more attention to patterns and dynamics.
But when should you actually get worried? When you repeat your questions, misplace your things often, find familiar tasks troublesome, your friend often complains about your frequent switch from being grumpy to real sweet, find it hard to recognise where exactly you parked your car in the parking lot, and are slowly becoming bad at mind mapping, and more.
Here are a few signs that tell you you must now start worrying and working on your memory lapses.
Keeping up with familiar tasks has become a problem.
You know how making a cup of tea used to be second nature? If suddenly you’re confused between the kettle and the toaster, it’s a red flag. When routine things start feeling like rocket science, it’s time to pause and pay attention. “Once you get to middle age, your capacity for paying attention starts to decrease; plus, you’ll probably have a lot more on your plate. If you’re not multitasking, however, and you suddenly can't remember how to use the washing machine, or you forgot to turn off the stove again and it caused a small fire, that’s more worrisome,” Dr Zaldy S. Tan, director of the memory and healthy ageing program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre, told Time.
So, you just need a little support and a memory check.
You are missing your usual promises.
Forgetting to water the plants is one thing; forgetting your best mate’s birthday bash (again) is another. When keeping promises feels like juggling jelly, it’s not just a “busy brain”. If flaking on familiar commitments becomes your new normal, it might signal more than simple forgetfulness. Your memory might be pulling a vanishing act, and no, you’re not becoming flaky on purpose—it’s time for a chat with a pro.
Your mood keeps switching often.
One minute you’re cheerful; the next you’re grumpy—sound familiar? Wild emotional swings, especially ones without an obvious cause, can be an early sign your brain’s chemistry is acting up. If you’re feeling too emotional, flipping from calm to agitated in seconds, don’t just chalk it up to “being moody”. Your memory and mood might be holding hands on a downhill slope.
You are misplacing important things.
Keys in the fridge? Wallet in the biscuit tin? If this sounds like you more days than not, it’s a big neon sign from your brain saying, “Hello, something’s off!” Everyone misplaces things now and then, but if it’s happening regularly—and you can’t retrace your steps—it might be time to investigate. Important objects shouldn’t need a treasure map.
You keep repeating certain questions.
If your mates say, “You already asked that” more than once a day, it’s not just a conversational quirk. Repeating questions, especially ones you just asked, suggests short-term memory isn’t firing on all cylinders. While it might feel like déjà vu, it’s really a clue that your brain’s recording button might be stuck.
You get lost in familiar places.
Imagine popping to the corner shop and ending up at the park, wondering how you got there. That familiar route to your favourite café suddenly feels like a maze? Not great. If your internal GPS is going rogue in places you’ve known for years, it could mean spatial memory’s having a wobble.
Your parent developed Alzheimer's at the same age.
If Mum or Dad started showing symptoms around your age, and now you’re misplacing memories faster than socks in the wash, it’s time to take that seriously. Genetics aren’t destiny, but they do pack a punch. A little screening could go a long way, especially if your forgetfulness feels like déjà vu all over again.
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