Forgetfulness is a normal part of life, and its common to grow more forgetful as you age.

Rest assured that most people get more forgetful over time and do not have Alzheimers.

Many other conditions can cause forgetfulness as well.

Lovely senior couple on the beach - stock photo

Twenty47studio / Getty Images

This article will explore the symptoms and causes of forgetfulness and how it’s diagnosed and treated.

Signs that you may have a diagnosable problem include:

Anyone can experience these things on occasion.

Your brain undergoes physical changes as you get older.

What Lifestyle Factors Can Cause Forgetfulness?

Several aspects of your life can affect your cognitive health and forgetfulness.

What Medical Conditions Can Cause Forgetfulness?

A wide range of medical conditions can lead to forgetfulness and other cognitive changes.

These include both physical and mental health disorders.

Forgetfulness is common in:

What Medications Can Cause Forgetfulness?

Some prescription medications can cause forgetfulness, especially those that affect brain function or chemistry.

Talk to your healthcare provider about the right approach for you.

Are There Tests To Diagnose the Cause of Forgetfulness?

Your healthcare provider has several tools for diagnosing the cause of your forgetfulness.

In older people, if it doesnt interfere, its considered normal aging.

Treatment for memory problems depends on what is causing them.

It may include medications or lifestyle changes.

Your healthcare provider may use an array of tests to pinpoint the cause of your cognitive changes.

A Word From Verywell

Forgetfulness can be frustrating, embarrassing, and frightening.

However, mild forgetfulness is a normal part of aging.

If youre concerned, see your healthcare provider and ask about testing.

Scripps Affiliated Medical Groups.Memory loss: when to visit your doctor.

Published 2017 Jun 30. doi:10.3389/fphar.2017.00438

Harvard University Medical School, Harvard Health Publishing.7 common causes of forgetfulness.

National Institute on Aging.Memory problems, forgetfulness, and aging.

Ramanoel S, Hoyau E, Kauffmann L, et al.Gray matter volume and cognitive performance during normal aging.

A voxel-based morphometry study.Front Aging Neurosci.

2022;14(4):914.

Published 2022 Feb 21. doi:10.3390/nu14040914

Harvard University Medical School, Harvard Health Publishing.Boost your memory by eating right.

American Brain Foundation.Healing your brain after loss: How grief rewires the brain.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About Alzheimers.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Parkinsons disease and dementia.

ALS Association.What is ALS?

ALS Association.FYI: ALS, cognitive impairment & dementia.

University of Rochester Medical Center.Brain tumors: Coping with thinking and memory problems.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.What is vascular dementia?

National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Memory loss.

Published 2018 Mar 22. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00377

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

2019;60(8):917-926. doi:10.1111/jcpp.13042

American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Concussion.

American Stroke Association.Memory loss.

Lupus Foundation of America.How lupus affects memory.

Mount Sinai.Non-MS autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system.

Published 2020 Dec 4. doi:10.3389/fnins.2020.586939

National Kidney Foundation.Kidney disease linked to dementia.

Swaminathan M, Ellul MA, Cross TJ.Hepatic encephalopathy: Current challenges and future prospects.Hepat Med.

2020;221:63-70. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2020.01.010

Harvard Health Publishing.7 common causes of forgetfulness.

Corley C, Allen AR.

2022;5(5):e2210734.

Published 2022 May 2. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.10734

New York University Langone, NYU Lagone Health.Diagnosing memory loss.

Cedars Sinai.When should I be concerned about memory loss?