When to Worry About Memory?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Just some background: I’m in my late fifties and my mother died with dementia at 91.

Here’s some more context. I’m taking off a week in September, and originally I was planning a trip to visit relatives. However, after some discussion with said relatives, we decided to postpone the visit until November, so I have two vacations coming up. September will be a stay at home week, November will involve travel. This was all decided about two weeks ago.

So today, I get a call from my doctor’s staff trying to arrange an appointment. They asked for a September date, and I told them I was planning to travel in September, and if an August date wasn’t available, could the appointment wait until…and then I said “November”. This triggered me to realize that the trip I was thinking about was in November, not September.

So I apologized for my confusion, and fixed the appointment for the September date. And hung up.

And I promptly started worrying about my memory mix-up harboring a more sinister meaning than just a whoopsie.

Of course, I’m telling myself not to be so paranoid. This incident doesn’t prove anything, and even if it did and I am doomed to have dementia, there’s nothing that can be done to prevent the disease so far. So best not to dwell on it.

But I am dwelling on it. I’m posting about it here, aren’t I?

Talk me down, my Doper friends?

2

That’s seems like completely normal confusion about dates after a change in plans. I’ve done that same many times, and I’m not even 50 yet.

3

I’m in my mid thirties, and I definitely have made that sort of mistake. It sounds super familiar. I’ve definitely done the, “wait, I know I said…so sorry, I was really confused”

4

I have a similar background with dementia in the family. I asked my doctor about it. Here’s what she said:

Don’t worry if you forget where your car keys are. Worry when you can’t remember what they’re for.

I think you’re fine. :slight_smile:

5

If you do something like what the OP did when you’re 20 then you’re an airhead.

If you do it when you’re 50 you worry about dementia.

The truth is we are all forgetful and/or a bit mixed up from time to time.

Also, what Aspenglow said.

6

Thank you all. Wise words.

Actually, typing out the incident for this thread’s opening post helped me to see that the incident wasn’t as abnormal as my mind saw it. It’s a slip-up, nothing more, and a very ordinary slip-up too.

7

I have a very close friend who is a couple years older than me. We walk together regularly and cherish the opportunities to have long, animated chats.

We often finish each other’s sentences – not because we know each other so well, although we do – but because we’ve reached the age where the right words just don’t come as easily as they once did.

It’s kind of funny. :smiley:

8

So you’re in your late 50s and are worried about dementia?

I’m 75, exactly the age my father was when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. :grimacing: