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Would you be worried about this memory loss / slowing down of thinking?

30 replies

lipsticktractor · 08/11/2023 13:34

I’m really noticing my brain is so much slower in my 30s. I’m forgetting things and my brain just seems to work much more slowly than it did. A stupid example but say yesterday a friend asked where a piece of material on the floor was from (the tie had come off my apron) and it took me several seconds to say apron, I was thinking “oh it’s off that thing you wear when cooking, what’s that called? Erm what do you call that? …. An apron!” I’m sure in the past I would have just said apron straight away. Or I’ll be listening to the radio and recognise the presenter and it’ll take me 5-10 minutes into the programme to remember their name. And for a regular presenter who I hear often, not someone obscure. I find myself often noticing how I can’t remember something I would have remembered instantly previously or I sometimes can’t think of what the word is for something.

Is this normal? I can’t tell if this is completely normal as you age or something to be worried about. I don’t have children so I’m not sleep-deprived!

OP posts:
notanothernamechange12 · 08/11/2023 13:37

No it's not normal. My nana had this and its what prompted her to go dr, she had a brain tumour. She would just not be able to recall words for things. Please get seen asap it could be nothing or there could be something going on.

lipsticktractor · 08/11/2023 14:25

Thanks for replying. How is she, is she still with you?

OP posts:
Dustmaiden · 08/11/2023 16:46

I’m very much like this and have been for years (much worse since hitting perimenopause).

Mine was very much like this when my iron and ferritin levels were low. Have you had a full blood check up recently? My friend had terrible issues with low B12. So it’s worth popping to the GP.

I also have adhd and my brain takes a while to connect as I seem to have many things going on in my brain all at the time.

Are you early or late 30’s?

CrunchyCarrot · 08/11/2023 16:54

No not normal. Agree with PP who mentioned Vit B12, please get that checked.

userxx · 08/11/2023 16:57

I'd say you're far too young to be honest, unless you've got a bad case of baby brain or you took a fuckton of drugs in your youth.

TryTryTryAgainAgainAgain · 08/11/2023 16:58

Op don’t panic, there are many easily treatable things that can cause this.
In my case the first time it was hypothyroidism, a decade later it was due to vitamin D deficiency, when it happened a few years later it was B12 deficiency, low iron and low folate can also cause similar symptoms.
Go and speak to the Dr, they should request blood test to rule things out.

Leo227 · 08/11/2023 16:59

If you're under any kind of stress of anxiety It cam make this worse. ive had it since my mid 30s

Avastmehearties · 08/11/2023 17:01

Are you on any meds or had covid lately? I have this terribly on epilepsy meds and it's got a lot worse post latest covid.

If not I would ask GP. Could be all manner of things, many perfectly easily fixed such as deficiencies but I wouldn't ignore.

Note that lot of people are dismissive of this in a nice way 'oh I've got a memory like a sieve too!'. Push back, insist this is unusual for you and you want it checking.

Bananaman123 · 08/11/2023 17:02

I have this, started in my 30s and down to having Hashimoto’s disease, there are a few illnesses that can cause this. I take medication but I literally have zero memory and need to write everything down.

lipsticktractor · 08/11/2023 17:24

Dustmaiden · 08/11/2023 16:46

I’m very much like this and have been for years (much worse since hitting perimenopause).

Mine was very much like this when my iron and ferritin levels were low. Have you had a full blood check up recently? My friend had terrible issues with low B12. So it’s worth popping to the GP.

I also have adhd and my brain takes a while to connect as I seem to have many things going on in my brain all at the time.

Are you early or late 30’s?

I’m 31. That’s interesting as I have had low iron / low ferritin before. Not sure on B12 but it sounds like I need to get that checked too.

OP posts:
Plexie · 08/11/2023 17:35

It's a normal part of the ageing process, but I'd say not until your 40s. Not 'normal' at 31.

lipsticktractor · 08/11/2023 18:38

userxx · 08/11/2023 16:57

I'd say you're far too young to be honest, unless you've got a bad case of baby brain or you took a fuckton of drugs in your youth.

Neither to both of those!

OP posts:
Daffodildilys · 08/11/2023 18:42

I had this in my 50’s. My vit b12 level was 112 - so low. Have 3 monthly injections now and feel so much better.

Pezdeoro41 · 08/11/2023 18:42

I’d say it depends - tiredness and having a lot on my mind also does this to me, and it did at that age too. So I wouldn’t say it has to be something medically serious, but worth checking out as others say.

pinkpanther84 · 08/11/2023 18:50

I'm 39 and having a similar problem increasingly, mainly where I can't think of the words for things

lipsticktractor · 08/11/2023 19:40

Avastmehearties · 08/11/2023 17:01

Are you on any meds or had covid lately? I have this terribly on epilepsy meds and it's got a lot worse post latest covid.

If not I would ask GP. Could be all manner of things, many perfectly easily fixed such as deficiencies but I wouldn't ignore.

Note that lot of people are dismissive of this in a nice way 'oh I've got a memory like a sieve too!'. Push back, insist this is unusual for you and you want it checking.

I’ve been on citalopram but it’s a very low dose?

OP posts:
Noseyoldcow · 08/11/2023 19:54

I have this now. But I'm 68.

Noseyoldcow · 08/11/2023 19:56

But it's not that bad, well I don't think so. It's just that the recall is no longer instant, I usually get there after a minute or so.

determinedtomakethiswork · 08/11/2023 20:22

Are you extremely tired? Do you have broken nights?

lipsticktractor · 08/11/2023 21:06

determinedtomakethiswork · 08/11/2023 20:22

Are you extremely tired? Do you have broken nights?

No I generally sleep well. Also no stressful job.

OP posts:
CloudsNeverStayTheyAlwaysGoAway · 08/11/2023 21:15

@lipsticktractor I'm like this and I'm 41. Started less than a year ago. I'm being treated for vitamin D3 and b12 deficiency and quite severe PCOS.

Wonderously · 08/11/2023 21:21

Yes same with me, low iron and b12 caused this

AbbeyGailsParty · 08/11/2023 21:25

Another one here who had the same, low B12. Make sure you see your blood test results as drs will often say it’s normal when you’re borderline. You also need a good level of folic acid for B12 to work properly in your body so make sure that is tested too.

AbbeyGailsParty · 08/11/2023 21:28

Daffodildilys · 08/11/2023 18:42

I had this in my 50’s. My vit b12 level was 112 - so low. Have 3 monthly injections now and feel so much better.

Mine was 112 and GP told me it was normal !! Which is why I always check my own test results now. Also have 3 monthly injections and so much better, though I have to do my own.

Dustmaiden · 08/11/2023 22:09

lipsticktractor have you been on Citalopram for long? I had to come off it, it made me feel really weird.