What Is a Memory Lapse?

When you can't remember a period that you normally would, then you have experienced a memory lapse. Memory issues can occur due to several factors, including old age.

When we talk about memory lapses and fuzzy brains, most people want to know if it's normal or something to be concerned about. In short: yes, it is normal—for the most part. There are harmless moments of forgetfulness, but it's also important to understand when it might be an issue.

Symptoms of a Memory Lapse

Forgetfulness is not always a sign of dementia, especially for age-related memory lapses. Here are some general signs of memory lapse that don't necessarily point to dementia but can be linked to age-related memory loss:

• Misplacing your belongings
• Losing your line of thought mid-conversation
• Trouble remembering time spent between you and those you frequently see
• Difficulty remembering the names of people around you

The key difference between dementia and regular memory loss is that the former affects your day-to-day life, while regular memory is occasional. Here are some signs that you need to watch out for as they could indicate dementia:

• Forgetting things all of a sudden, even after the event just happened
• Inability to carry out simple tasks like bathing, dressing up, etc.
• Repeating phrases over and over in simple conversation
• Trouble acting normally in public places and social gatherings

Causes of a Memory Lapse

Old age is not the only cause of memory lapse or forgetfulness. Some other causes include:

• Depression
• Lack of vitamin B12
• Thyroid problems
• Excessive alcohol consumption