Q. I am 78 years old and occasionally forget the names of people I know. It happens most frequently when I am introduced to someone new. I find that by the end of the evening, I have forgotten the person’s name. Should I worry? Thank you. B.H.
In later life, it is easy to get concerned when you frequently forget names of people you have recently met or even know. Some of this increased concern may come from personal experience. For example, if a loved one or close friend had a similar memory problem and subsequently was diagnosed with dementia, one may think, “Am I next?” Additionally, Alzheimer’s disease has gotten more recent attention because of the incidence, drug trials, the impact on families and caregivers and the financial burden. And finally, it’s knowing there is no agreed upon cause or cure for the disease that can even heighten the worry.
Let’s look at the facts to place these concerns in perspective. In later life, we tend to forget things more than usual. That’s because of age-related changes in the hippocampus part of the brain which is responsible for memory formation and retrieval.
The Alzheimer’s Association identifies changes that typically are signs of normal aging.
- Forgetting the names of people you don’t know very well.
- Misplacing items such as keys, glasses or the TV remote.
- Missing an occasional appointment.
- Having difficulty taking in new information as quickly as one used to.
- Not being able to find the right word during a conversation or when writing.
- Struggling with a new technology such as apps or smart devices.
- Needing to take a little longer time to think things through.
For most people, these changes are unlikely signs of dementia if they don’t affect your ability to do things in everyday life. Note there is a difference between forgetting where you place your keys and forgetting how to drive.
So, what can we do to remember people’s names? Dr. Gary Small, Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and Director, UCLA Longevity Center gives us some direction in his book, “The Memory Bible: An Innovative Strategy to Keep Your Brain Young” (Hyperion, 2002). Although his techniques have broad applications, we will focus on just recalling names of people for this column.
Small describes three basic memory training skills: look, snap and connect.
The “look “means to observe and listen. That means pay attention.
The “snap” is creating a snapshot, a visual image of a name and face. Small writes that all names can be placed in two groups. Those that convey a visual image and those that do not. He gives us examples of names that suggest visual images. Think about Carpenter, Katz, Bishop, White, and Siegel. The last name Washington can make us think of the first U.S. President while the first name “Bill” could be represented by a dollar bill.
There also are first and last names that have no immediate meaning. This involves a little more work. Take the name Frank Kaufman. Small suggests thinking about a frankfurter being eaten by a coughing man. Another example is the name Gene Phillips. This image suggested by Small is a Phillips screwdriver wearing a pair of tight jeans.
The “connect” is linking the name to the face. Consider looking at distinguishing features such as an unusual hairdo, piercing blue eyes or a distinguished beard. We are to pick the first outstanding feature we notice and link it to the name. To remember Mr. Bender, one might visualize him bending forward (“The Memory Bible,” Hyperion, 2002).
Sometimes the first thing that strikes us is one’s personality. If one meets a Mr. Porter with a sense of humor and silly laughter, think about a porter carrying a suitcase dressed as a clown (“The Memory Bible,” Hyperion, 2002).
Clearly, one must be intentional to implement some of these tips. But if remembering names is of great importance, these techniques are worth a try.
The challenge is to distinguish normal aging from dementia. Note dementia is a group of symptoms caused by different diseases that damage the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases.
For ten of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia see the website.
Thank you B.H. for your good question. I hope these techniques are helpful.
Mark Twain offered an interesting perspective on memory. “When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it had happened or not.”
Stay well and know kindness is a way of life.
Helen Dennis is a nationally recognized leader on issues of aging and the new retirement with academic, corporate and nonprofit experience. Contact Helen with your questions and comments at Helendenn@gmail.com. Visit Helen at HelenMdennis.com and follow her on facebook.com/SuccessfulAgingCommunity