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What Causes Forgetfulness And Temporary Memory Loss?
Question: Hello again, Doctor. This is a follow-up to the question you were kind enough to answer on XXXXXXX 4th:
http://www.healthcaremagic.com/AskDoctorInboxServlet?page=viewQuery&queryId=196978
Your answers to my initial questions made me feel a lot better, and yet, I'm embarrassed to say, two recent incidents started my worrying cycle anew.
The first thing: at my work (bartending), I recently had a customer tell me that it was good to see me a couple of weeks ago outside of my job. And yet I didn't remember seeing her. I had to rack my brains to (somewhat) recall that, indeed, I had said hello to this person, in passing, about a week-and-a-half before. I do not, for the record, know this person very well, but I must ask: is this an alarming lapse?
The second thing was that I reintroduced myself to a person whom I had already introduced myself to about a month before. I realized it immediately, before she even said anything, but the fact is that I had momentarily forgotten it.
Because of my disposition toward chronic worry, I avoid reading too much about any conditions that worry me -- but recently I've overheard theories (e.g. Dr. XXXXXXX Small) which suggest that early cognitive issues, such as the ones I'm having, might be a sign of something more serious to come. On the other hand, my neurologist once told me that this is just a theory at best. I confess, however, that this idea -- i.e. I'm suffering some early form of dementia which I'm powerless to reverse -- is my main source of my anxiety right now.
This same neurologist -- he's my doctor in XXXXXXX -- told me that "insight into my memory issues" (as he put it) "by definition rules out a dementing process."
Is that, in your opinion, true?
I thank you very much for your time.
http://www.healthcaremagic.com/AskDoctorInboxServlet?page=viewQuery&queryId=196978
Your answers to my initial questions made me feel a lot better, and yet, I'm embarrassed to say, two recent incidents started my worrying cycle anew.
The first thing: at my work (bartending), I recently had a customer tell me that it was good to see me a couple of weeks ago outside of my job. And yet I didn't remember seeing her. I had to rack my brains to (somewhat) recall that, indeed, I had said hello to this person, in passing, about a week-and-a-half before. I do not, for the record, know this person very well, but I must ask: is this an alarming lapse?
The second thing was that I reintroduced myself to a person whom I had already introduced myself to about a month before. I realized it immediately, before she even said anything, but the fact is that I had momentarily forgotten it.
Because of my disposition toward chronic worry, I avoid reading too much about any conditions that worry me -- but recently I've overheard theories (e.g. Dr. XXXXXXX Small) which suggest that early cognitive issues, such as the ones I'm having, might be a sign of something more serious to come. On the other hand, my neurologist once told me that this is just a theory at best. I confess, however, that this idea -- i.e. I'm suffering some early form of dementia which I'm powerless to reverse -- is my main source of my anxiety right now.
This same neurologist -- he's my doctor in XXXXXXX -- told me that "insight into my memory issues" (as he put it) "by definition rules out a dementing process."
Is that, in your opinion, true?
I thank you very much for your time.
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again! Thank you for your confidence in me and this site.
Regarding the statement by your neurologist, technically there can be insight on having memory issues in early stages when there is not impairment of judgment, so I do not completely agree. However I suppose it was more his general impression from your conversation which led him to that opinion, the overall assessment of your cognitive functions looking to be good, and he tried to calm you down by using that exact terminology.
As for those episodes you mention though, my opinion remains the same. You have a profession in which I assume you meet a lot of people, see many new faces every day and it is acceptable not to remember some of them. On a side note, as a doctor who sees many patients every day I can relate to that as I am often greeted b people on the street who I can't recall but turns out they either had a relative under my care or were my patients themselves.
So up to now, neither from your past query, nor from this one, I can't find any element to lead me into suspecting dementia. Of course as I said before that is evaluated more objectively through neuropsychological tests, but from the present info and your age there is no reason to panic. Of course cognitive issues can advance, if the tests showed cognitive impairment would be a source of worry, I just don't think there is evidence of a cognitive issue for now.
The fact that the neurologist (someone experienced with that diagnosis) was confident enough not to think those tests necessary makes me even more optimistic.
I remain at you disposal in case you have more questions.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again! Thank you for your confidence in me and this site.
Regarding the statement by your neurologist, technically there can be insight on having memory issues in early stages when there is not impairment of judgment, so I do not completely agree. However I suppose it was more his general impression from your conversation which led him to that opinion, the overall assessment of your cognitive functions looking to be good, and he tried to calm you down by using that exact terminology.
As for those episodes you mention though, my opinion remains the same. You have a profession in which I assume you meet a lot of people, see many new faces every day and it is acceptable not to remember some of them. On a side note, as a doctor who sees many patients every day I can relate to that as I am often greeted b people on the street who I can't recall but turns out they either had a relative under my care or were my patients themselves.
So up to now, neither from your past query, nor from this one, I can't find any element to lead me into suspecting dementia. Of course as I said before that is evaluated more objectively through neuropsychological tests, but from the present info and your age there is no reason to panic. Of course cognitive issues can advance, if the tests showed cognitive impairment would be a source of worry, I just don't think there is evidence of a cognitive issue for now.
The fact that the neurologist (someone experienced with that diagnosis) was confident enough not to think those tests necessary makes me even more optimistic.
I remain at you disposal in case you have more questions.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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