Having Memory/Language Issues- Normal Aging?
 

I'm 65. I have always had, and used a pretty expansive vocabulary- not scholarly but enough to be sure I was understood. I could hold my own in a variety of social situations.

For the past few years I have a lot of trouble finding words. I find that my conversations are now lacking the 'big' words I used to use. When I'm talking, a word that would normally be immediately available to me is now a blank space in my mind, and I instead use a basic word. An example: While talking I might use the 'Expansive" (as in my 1st sentence above), but when I draw a blank I'll instead say, "Big". This problem is not quite so bad when I'm typing.

So, are these lapses on the spectrum Senior Moments?

Make an appointment with Dr. Mason "the memory doctor" in Leesburg for a complete analysis. No sense in asking questions here as those that have gone through it cannot remember the answers.

Charter Research advertises in the Daily Sun often 352 441 2000. I don’t have any experience with them. Just saw the ad

Synexus is also doing studies on memory, located behind the circle K gas station on Wedgewood.

Some good advice in this thread already about seeking professional help.

Losing words is not uncommon among us geezers. Neither is losing things, or forgetting what you went to get once you get there. I’m 75 and those phenomena have been present, to a greater or lesser degree, for the past decade. But we learn coping skills. And our lives go on.

To use a well-worn example: if you forget where your car keys are, that is normal. If you forget what your car keys are FOR…well, time to start worrying. I’m certainly no expert (though I did work with geriatric populations extensively back in the world) but my thought is that if you know what you WANT to say but can’t find quite the right word, that is normal. Like losing your car keys. I’d ask an expert, but wouldn’t worry too much.

I think your post is excellent. We have the same type of forgetfulness, especially with words. I can see it, feel it on my tongue and cannot get it out. I put it down to living in TV. Rarely do we have the type of conversation we had when we were working, or the opportunity to sit and converse with younger more intellectual people. Our discussions and speech patterns in TV start and end with Good Morning, how are you, and Well, see you later.

The fear of dementia is ever present as we age. I notice that when we are back with our family, especially adult grandchildren, our vocabulary gets much better. This last sentence says it all, I could have ended with "our vocabulary improves immensely".

Being your age and having had 7 concussions from sports in my lifetime, I feel your pain. I have similar issues when highly stressed or very tired. My mom has serious dementia, and can't remember anything for more than 5 minutes. One of the accelerants of dementia is isolation. Because with isolation, you don't speak so you can lose the use of vocabulary faster than when speaking regularly. The pandemic isolation did my mom in, as well as being a widow starting at age 89, she is now 96. Activity level of regular exercise and regular socialization and good sleep patterns will help slow the advance if you are predisposed to the disease.

All of this information was learned during regular visits with her neurologist until i had to put her in assisted living. And I also learned I was predisposed due to the head injuries, and I do feel those issues as well. . . but I also do crossword puzzles at night to keep the words alive in the brain. . you might want to try word puzzles as a way to keep those words in your active library

doomed guy

My wife and I were tested by them last year and plan to do it again soon.

No cost and think they give a pretty good test on your cognitive functions.

Also medicare wellness test also tests for this but not as complete as Charter Research.

I have had chemo brain for the last 10 years so I have word issues and memory problems all the time. It is difficult at times but my doctor says it is just me getting old. I was 49 when I was diagnosed with incurable cancer. I have always used used basic words, why use big words when little ones work just fine. Anyway, find a way around it and do the best you can.

Carotid artery blockage…. As we age all that bacon had to go somewhere…. ultrasound/ Doppler will pinpoint the area

I just went and had a very good experience.

I have had that issue occasionally for as long as I can remember - one mechanism that works wonders is to give yourself a "short-circuit".

By this, I mean if you grasping for a word, think of a question and answer that has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with the word you want. Example: "How many arms does an octopus have?" More times than not, this momentary shift will get you back on the main track.

Memory Issues
 

The Villages Health has an outreach program that will test your memory using the nationally standardized testing program. It is free to all residents. You do not have to be in their health system.

May want to check your B12 levels. Supplements will correct any deficiency.

Low Vitamin B12 Levels: An Underestimated Cause Of Minimal Cognitive Impairment And Dementia - PMC.

My friend goes to charter research and the outcome was amazing. I would recommend…..definitely.