Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptoms of Short-Term Memory LossWhy Short-Term Memory MattersInfluential FactorsTaking a Memory Loss TestDiagnosing Short-Term Memory LossHow to Combat Memory Loss

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms of Short-Term Memory Loss

Why Short-Term Memory Matters

Influential Factors

Taking a Memory Loss Test

Diagnosing Short-Term Memory Loss

How to Combat Memory Loss

Close

Can’trememberthe name of the person you just met—again? Forgot where you parked—again? Episodes of forgetfulness like these can be nerve-wracking. Some people find them a little scary.

When this sort of thing happens frequently, people may even fear that they have a brain-related problem or are developing some form of dementia, such asAlzheimer’s disease.

A memory loss test can be a way to assess yourmemoryand watch for signs of potential problems

At a GlanceIf you’re worried about your short-term memory, taking a memory loss test and seeing your results may help ease your mind. This article discusses why short-term memory is so important and how you can test your memory if you are concerned.

At a Glance

If you’re worried about your short-term memory, taking a memory loss test and seeing your results may help ease your mind. This article discusses why short-term memory is so important and how you can test your memory if you are concerned.

Short-term memory loss involves forgetting information that you recently thought about or learned. Some common symptoms include:

Reasons Why People Forget

Short-term memory is essential to daily living. It’s what allows you to find your car keys, remember if you left the water running in the tub, and even whether you’ve eaten breakfast or brushed your teeth.

Short-term memory is a temporary holding area for information you are currently using or focused on. It is essential for daily functioning, which is why problems with this type of memory can be frustrating and potentially debilitating.

Because short-term memory is limited in terms of its capacity and duration, problems can happen. This helps explain why it is also subject to all sorts of glitches.

Experts suggest that there are multiple reasons you may forget a piece of information practically the minute you receive it.For instance, it may simply be too much information to retain that quickly.

It’s long been believed that the average human brain can hold onto no more than seven things at once—one reason phone numbers (minus the area code, of course), are seven digits.

Factors That Affect Short-Term Memory

Factors that can interfere with short-term memory and contribute tomemory lossinclude:

Interruptions and distractions can also be major memory-stealers: If the bell rings while you’re in the middle of a conversation with a neighbor, chances are your friend will need to repeat the last thing they said to you before you answered the door.

There’s a bit of truth in the phrase “senior moment.” After the age of 50, most people do find it a little harder to remember new information, but this doesn’t mean they’re on the road to developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

One way to get a sense of how “normal” your own memory lapses are is to take a legitimate short-term memory test. There are several options available:

Free Memory Quizzes

A score of nine or higher indicates a problem that should be addressed with lifestyle changes, while a score over 12 suggests that you should see a doctor.

Another quiz you might try is theMini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) Online Test. The MMSE is a quick test designed to measure cognitive function in the early stages of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

There is a free version available that may be helpful for assessing your memory as well asattention, language, and motor skills. To take the test, you’ll need a pen and paper to write down your answers and a friend who can administer and score the test.

SAGE Memory Test

To take the test, you’ll need to download the test to answer the questions with a pen and paper. It should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.

The maximum score possible is 22, and a score under 17 suggests that there are thinking problems present that should be further evaluated. A score under 15 or 16 suggests that the individual has mild cognitive impairment, and a score below 14 indicates the presence of dementia.

If your results suggest your memory issues are more than simple age-related forgetfulness, you should see your healthcare provider. A self-quiz can be helpful for spotting the signs of a potential problem, but you’ll need further evaluation.

If your results have indicated a cause for concern, it is important to talk to your healthcare provider. They will ask questions about your symptoms, perform a physical exam, and order lab tests to look for possible medical issues that might be contributing to your memory problems.

If needed, your provider may also order brain scans and cognitive tests. They may then make recommendations for treatments or ways to address memory problems, or they may refer you to a specialist.

At the same time, if your score doesn’t indicate a problem, keep in mind that even at an advanced age, the human brain can develop new neurons as long as it gets some “exercise.”

Keep Your Brain Active

So use your head as much as possible. The following strategies may help combat memory loss:

By keeping your mind active, your brain will get the workout it needs tostay sharp.

Lifestyle Modifications

Certain lifestyle changes may help improve short-term memory. Getting regular exercise and staying physically active throughout life can also play an important role in combatting memory loss. Research has even shown that exercise canimprove memory performancein older adults.

Getting enough sleep and following a Mediterranean diet can help.Cognitive trainingand other mental activities that challenge the brain may also lead to improvements.

The National Insitute on Aging also recommends managing your blood pressure, controlling type 2 diabetes, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding smoking to maintain cognitive health.

Causes of Memory Loss

7 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute on Aging.Memory, forgetfulness, and aging: What’s normal and what’s not?Atkinson RC, Shiffrin RM.The control processes of short-term memory. Institute for Mathematical Studies in the Social Sciences, Stanford University.National Institute on Aging.Memory, forgetfulness, and aging: What’s normal and what’s not?Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation.Memory quiz.The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.SAGE: A test to detect signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia.Babaei P, Azari HB.Exercise training improves memory performance in older adults: A narrative review of evidence and possible mechanisms.Front Hum Neurosci. 2022;15:771553. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2021.771553National Institute on Aging.Assessing risk for Alzheimer’s.

7 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute on Aging.Memory, forgetfulness, and aging: What’s normal and what’s not?Atkinson RC, Shiffrin RM.The control processes of short-term memory. Institute for Mathematical Studies in the Social Sciences, Stanford University.National Institute on Aging.Memory, forgetfulness, and aging: What’s normal and what’s not?Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation.Memory quiz.The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.SAGE: A test to detect signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia.Babaei P, Azari HB.Exercise training improves memory performance in older adults: A narrative review of evidence and possible mechanisms.Front Hum Neurosci. 2022;15:771553. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2021.771553National Institute on Aging.Assessing risk for Alzheimer’s.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Institute on Aging.Memory, forgetfulness, and aging: What’s normal and what’s not?Atkinson RC, Shiffrin RM.The control processes of short-term memory. Institute for Mathematical Studies in the Social Sciences, Stanford University.National Institute on Aging.Memory, forgetfulness, and aging: What’s normal and what’s not?Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation.Memory quiz.The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.SAGE: A test to detect signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia.Babaei P, Azari HB.Exercise training improves memory performance in older adults: A narrative review of evidence and possible mechanisms.Front Hum Neurosci. 2022;15:771553. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2021.771553National Institute on Aging.Assessing risk for Alzheimer’s.

National Institute on Aging.Memory, forgetfulness, and aging: What’s normal and what’s not?

Atkinson RC, Shiffrin RM.The control processes of short-term memory. Institute for Mathematical Studies in the Social Sciences, Stanford University.

Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation.Memory quiz.

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.SAGE: A test to detect signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Babaei P, Azari HB.Exercise training improves memory performance in older adults: A narrative review of evidence and possible mechanisms.Front Hum Neurosci. 2022;15:771553. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2021.771553

National Institute on Aging.Assessing risk for Alzheimer’s.

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