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Original poster

I'm losing/substituting words - but it's not early onset dementia is it?

85 replies

ForgotwhatIcameinherefor · 09/01/2023 09:25

I took my DF for a test a while back and I would have been ok with his questions: children's names and ages, name animals for a minute, who is the current PM, USA President, a recent news story etc
But for several years now more and more words are dropping from my memory. I want to use a word and just can't remember it. Other times often a wrong word just comes out eg "Get your sandwiches on" instead of shoes. I usually know straight away I said the wrong word and then sometimes take a couple more attempts to correct myself.
Is this common? What's it called?
Thanks and love to anyone who is familiar xxx

OP posts:
Kinnorafron · 09/01/2023 09:28

I don't know if it is common or what it's called but I know people of all ages who do this.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 09/01/2023 09:29

Yep, it’s called….anno dom, o something, I used to know, give me a minute, I’ll think of it…oh bugger

Testina · 09/01/2023 09:29

Are you a typical menopausal age?

MeMyBooksAndMyCats · 09/01/2023 09:29

Really really common. I have the same problem definitely don't have dementia!

WomanhoodIsABirthright · 09/01/2023 09:31

I had this, it was down to either low B12 or menopause, its got better now I take vits every day and HRT.

ThreeblackCats · 09/01/2023 09:32

Did this begin after you had Covid?

I found myself struggling with words since last February when I had Covid. Once I’ve used a word it seems to back in my memory banks, but first time using rarer words I’ve found myself struggling.

for instance, I wanted jam (I know it’s not particularly rare but it’s not something I eat) ended up having to describe “sweet, red, in a jar, in the fridge, Cherry flavour” whilst getting equally frustrated both with myself and my husband for not understanding me.

KangarooKenny · 09/01/2023 09:33

I’ve been doing this for a few years, it’s peri menopause.

LaurieFairyCake · 09/01/2023 09:33

For me peri menopause or stress if you're not peri

SBHon · 09/01/2023 09:34

When you have it very seriously (due to brain trauma like a stroke) it’s called Anomia or Anomic Aphasia. But just in general it’s not thought of as serious I don’t think. Mine is worse when I’m stressed.

This article has some more info.
discoverenglish.vic.edu.au/why-do-we-forget-words-we-know-tips-for-getting-words-off-the-tip-of-your-tongue/

FuckabethFuckor · 09/01/2023 09:35

I do this sometimes; it can apparently be a symptom of depression. That's what it is for me. When the depressive state is worse, I lose my thread more, become more vague, forget words and substitute words.

FurryDandelionSeekingMissile · 09/01/2023 09:38

Happens to me with certain medications (particularly a couple of anti-epileptic drugs), and in the lead-up to and during a migraine attack.

CMOTDibbler · 09/01/2023 09:38

How old are you? I have to say my mum in her 50's would do this and it was funny (do you want a 'thing to write with that you sharpen') but then in her mid 60's this was all the time and she lost nouns first completely though she could talk around it quite successfully for a long time. It was a sign of a type of dementia unfortunatly. The standard test doesn't pick it up as well as other tests.
So occasionally, nothing to worry about imo, happens to us all, but more consistently its worth chatting with your GP.

Nosecamera · 09/01/2023 09:38

For me it's peri related, massively exacerbated by being under serious stress constantly. Hrt has helped.

GetOffTheTableMabel · 09/01/2023 09:41

I do it when singing and it really unsettles me. I’ll be driving and singing along in the car, usual to a song I have known for years and I find myself substituting a word that rhymes or scans but which I know is wrong. It feels pretty weird.

Catspyjamas17 · 09/01/2023 09:56

I've definitely done this more recently, in the last few months. I find I think about something I need to do and then can't remember what it was if I get distracted - if someone just talks to me in that moment say, when I'm writing an item I need to buy on a shopping list, it has gone, and sometimes it doesn't come back for hours, or at all. Or someone's name escapes me who I know pretty well.

I think it's either menopause or mental overload or both. My brain just feels a bit too full.

RethinkingLife · 09/01/2023 10:10

If you read up about nominative aphasia, does that describe what you're experiencing? (Can happen in peri-menopausal and menopausal women.)

Treedecsandtinsel · 09/01/2023 10:11

I do this. It’s bloody annoying. For me it’s usually worst if I’m tired or dehydrated. Years ago I had a terrible migraine that resulted in some neurological damage according to the consultant I saw. It made this issue worse for a time but it’s generally got better over time. Occasionally it’s really bad and I feel ‘blank’ for want of a better explanation. Like I have no relevant words or thoughts. I find that scary and worry people might think I’m drunk.

EilonwyWithRedGoldHair · 09/01/2023 10:38

FurryDandelionSeekingMissile · 09/01/2023 09:38

Happens to me with certain medications (particularly a couple of anti-epileptic drugs), and in the lead-up to and during a migraine attack.

I get it before a migraine.

And generally - peri menopause. If it's the run up to a migraine though it's a lot worse.

iklboo · 09/01/2023 10:44

I got this in peri, too. Just...lost words. I'd be in work typing a report and all of a sudden I had no idea what the word I was looking for was.

x2boys · 09/01/2023 10:45

ForgotwhatIcameinherefor · 09/01/2023 09:25

I took my DF for a test a while back and I would have been ok with his questions: children's names and ages, name animals for a minute, who is the current PM, USA President, a recent news story etc
But for several years now more and more words are dropping from my memory. I want to use a word and just can't remember it. Other times often a wrong word just comes out eg "Get your sandwiches on" instead of shoes. I usually know straight away I said the wrong word and then sometimes take a couple more attempts to correct myself.
Is this common? What's it called?
Thanks and love to anyone who is familiar xxx

People with Dementia can have word finding difficulties ,but it's more likely to be stress or menopausal etc.

FatGirlSwim · 09/01/2023 10:47

Just here to add to the chorus of perimenopause

HerringBoneBlanket · 09/01/2023 10:48

I've had this twice in my life. Once it was quite sudden and severe and I was terrified by dementia etc. I had 2 weeks off work and it resolved and I realised just how stressed and under reassure I'd been. It was to do with poor sleep, lack of headspace and stress.

The other time it was after a miscarriage and the gp ran blood tests and found I had anaemia and some other deficiencies. It got gradually better after taking supplements and iron.

Definitely worth speaking to GP for initial blood tests and menopause chat etc.

Curledupwithagoodbook · 09/01/2023 10:53

ThreeblackCats · 09/01/2023 09:32

Did this begin after you had Covid?

I found myself struggling with words since last February when I had Covid. Once I’ve used a word it seems to back in my memory banks, but first time using rarer words I’ve found myself struggling.

for instance, I wanted jam (I know it’s not particularly rare but it’s not something I eat) ended up having to describe “sweet, red, in a jar, in the fridge, Cherry flavour” whilst getting equally frustrated both with myself and my husband for not understanding me.

Yes, same here for both DH and me. I'm able to just laugh it off, but it distresses DH. Might it be that OP?

Somanysocks · 09/01/2023 10:59

I had no idea it could be menopause as this happens to me, how do you know if it's this or something else?

Tangled123 · 09/01/2023 11:06

This has happened me so much since maternity leave. I just put it down to forgetting words I don’t use very often as my brain wants to make room for all the baby stuff. No expert diagnosis though lol.