I am 29, what's happened to my memory?

[WhyTheHeckMe]

I'm getting really concerned about my memory at the moment.

Dementia runs in my family (great nan and nan both had it severely from age 55 ish onwards and now aunty also has it).
I'm 29 and I have a 1 year old. I have a good job where I use my brain a lot and work with figures.

The last 4 or 5 months I've noticed my memory seems to be failing me. At first it was a bit of a joke to DH, stuff like repeating myself and me not realising etc. But things are getting worse. Some examples -

1. Put babies teddy in the fridge
   

1. Put my make up on my bed but literally a minute later I couldn't find it. Found it in my bedroom bin the next day
   

1. Left the freezer door open after taking something out resulting in everything being binned
   

1. Passing dh my sons trainers, only to then immediately walk into the porch and tell him "I can't find his shoes" and I mean immediately
   

1. Paying my parking ticket and within 5 mins having no recollection of where I put it and having to pay the £10 lost ticket price
   

1. Some days I have no memory of driving home from work
   

1. Dh tells reminds me of something that I swear blind he never told me
   

1. Family member being in court over domestic violence. Was asked to be a witness but despite me being close to her and seeing my events over 10 years I cannot recall fully a single event from the whole time so had to say no
   

These are just what has come into my head without me really thinking about it.

I'm starting to really doubt myself at work now. I've always been so confident but this week I lost a file and whereas normally I'd know my boss just hadn't returned it I'm too afraid to ask now as I don't remember even handing the file over.

I'm embarrassed about my problem but also feel afraid. I sometimes feel like my head will explode

I am currently very stressed at work and home life is busy.

I told dh I may go to the doctors but he just laughed it off and said it will just be baby brain.

Anyone have any thoughts? I think it's unheard of to get dementia at my age but I don't know what else it could be?

Is baby brain really a thing or could it be as my mind is so busy?
Any advice would be welcome :)

[TheElephantofSurprise]

Stress will do this to you. Do go to the doctor and discuss the whole situation. It probably isn't dementia but you might need to re-think your lifestyle to ensure your future good health.

[naichick]

Hi OP

To be honest that list could have described my weeks activties!! I'm 29 with 2 dc full time work and study! I just put it down to a busy brain.

I think see your GP if you are genuinely worried. Maybe in the meantime try to find ways to manage stress somewhere amongst the busyness. I know its hard though, but just ways to relax and clear your mind iykwim?

[VimFuego101]

I would go to the doctors and get your thyroid checked.

[eurochick]

How well do you sleep? My memory was shot until several months after my baby started sleeping through.

[wineoclockthanks]

On the radio I heard a neurologist saying that the onset of dementia isn't walking into the kitchen and forgetting why you went in or putting the butter in the washing machine, its walking into the kitchen and not knowing it's a kitchen or looking at the kettle and not recognising it.

Stress and tiredness can make you seem forgetful but it's just that your brain is so busy it doesn't register the trainers on the floor etc.

It's probably worth seeing your GP, they maybe able to suggest something to help.

[Stuckinstressville]

Post my ds1
My thyroid stopped functioning and I had this - it is known to cause memory, processing and brain function issues if not working properly....
After a few weeks on tablets ( my tsh was 103) my memory slowly improved.

[Itsmytemporaryname]

Stressstressstress.

I agree, it's terrifying and obviously do get checked out if you're worried, but try some things to address the stress and see if you find an improvement. Wish you well.

[Shesaysso]

I once read that if you think you're showing signs of dementia then you are not, as people that genuinely are are unaware of it - if that makes sense.

[CatherineHate]

I'd ask the doctor for some checks, just for reassurance, but it's also worth getting your iron checked.

My iron levels were very low last year and my memory went to absolute shit. I'd have to rely on sensory tools to help me remember basic things (buying a fluffy key chain so I'd be able to recall if I locked the door before I left home)

[Glossolalia]

I think you should see your GP.

[Titsywoo]

Sounds more like absentmindedness rather than memory loss. I get worried about it sometimes too as there is a lot of dementia in my family but generally stuff like forgetting your journey home is something we all do when our minds are elsewhere - your brain can only do so much in one go!

Try mindfulness to help you live more in the moment and get more sleep!

[eviethehamster]

I could have written this post OP. A few weeks ago I wandered around a parking lot having no recollection of where I parked.

[WhyTheHeckMe]

Thanks so much guys I'm feeling a lot more reassured that you've not all come back and said it sounds like dementia!

I will still go to the doc and see what they say then to be on the safe side.

Yeah I am really lucky, ds sleeps very well. The last time he woke up overnight was October last year so I always get about 8 hours straight a night.

I think it must be down to having a busy mind then. I'm trying so hard to find ways around it. Last week I went for a full body massage after work. Tomorrow me and dh have arrange a date night and ds going to my mums for the night. I'm one of lifes natural born stressers and I wish I wasn't

[NameChanger22]

It is probably stress related.

Stress really affects my memory. I have a bad short-term memory e.g. I say something, then 2 minutes later say it again. When I'm really stressed I feel like my head is out of control and I can't focus on anything at all. Then I forget things like my postcode and address.

[loveyoutothemoon]

If it was dementia, you wouldn't put that post together. Like someone else said, it wouldn't be the things you described, it's not recognising things and being confused.

[MichaelSheensNextDW]

B12
folate
ferritin
Vit D
Thyroid
Problems with any of the above will cause cognitive processing issues

[mycavitiesareempty]

I really think you should go to the gp and not be fobbed off. This is really not normal for you. Dont let them pug it down to "baby brain". Your baby slêeps well and memory loss is concerning.

[mycavitiesareempty]

Put! Not pug.

[Foureyesarebetterthantwo]

Stress and tiredness absolutely do effect your brain's capacity to process and remember things. I am like this a lot and I know it is due to brain overload, so all the things like not driving the right way, getting confused about my next action, forgetting things, are fairly typical when I'm stressed (and I know why).

I don't think it hurts to go to the drs and they may well do a blood test for anything obviously causing the tiredness like anaemia or thyroid issues, and it won't hurt to take a multi vit as a starting point, but if you are scored on a memory test for dementia, this type of stuff doesn't really figure.

[CS2006]

I too could have written this post. I work full time and balancing home and work pressures is a constant challenge. I scare myself with my memory loss and absent minded mistakes at times. I think mine is due to stress and although your experiences could be too, with your family history you are bound to be worried. Any good gp will be understanding about that and give you the time to explore it further.
I've heard that ginkgo biloba (I think that's what it's called...it's a natural supplement) is supposed to be very good for cognition?

[Dairymilkmuncher]

Sounds like my mum when she had a nervous break down, she had so much stress at home and work and took early retirement and after a break she was better than ever, studied went back to work and still at it at 64. See your GP and get every test going but speaking to someone and getting a break might just be what you need

[HariboFrenzy]

I had this earlier this year and gp sent me for blood tests. Everything was fine apart from vitamin D which was low. I use a supplement mouth spray (when I remember ) and things are much improved. Not perfect, but as pp have said, working and looking after a toddler or a teething, germ ridden sleep obstacle as is referred to in our house is likely to result in a certain amount of absent-mindedness

[onwardsandbeyond]

my memory was pretty awful when I was anaemic. really worth seeing GP. Might be stress or something as simple as being low on iron.