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Memory
URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/memory.html

Memory

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Basics

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  • Start Here
  • Diagnosis and Tests
  • Prevention and Risk Factors
  • Treatments and Therapies

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Summary

Every day, you have different experiences and you learn new things. Your brain cannot store all of that information, so it has to decide what is worth remembering. Memory is the process of storing and then remembering this information. There are different types of memory. Short-term memory stores information for a few seconds or minutes. Long-term memory stores it for a longer period of time.

Memory doesn't always work perfectly. As you grow older, it may take longer to remember things.

It's normal to forget things once in a while. We've all forgotten a name, where we put our keys, or if we locked the front door. If you are an older adult who forgets things more often than others your age, you may have mild cognitive impairment. Forgetting how to use your phone or find your way home may be signs of a more serious problem, such as:

  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Other types of dementia
  • Stroke
  • Depression
  • Head injuries
  • Blood clots or tumors in the brain
  • Kidney, liver, or thyroid problems
  • Reactions to certain medicines

If you're worried about your forgetfulness, see your health care provider.

NIH: National Institute on Aging

Start Here

  • Understanding Memory Loss: What To Do When You Have Trouble Remembering From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Aging) - PDF

Diagnosis and Tests

  • Cognitive Testing From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Memory Loss: When to Seek Help (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

  • Memory Loss: 7 Tips to Improve Your Memory (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

  • Ginkgo From the National Institutes of Health (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
  • Medications for Memory, Cognition, and Dementia-Related Behaviors (Alzheimer's Association)

Related Issues

  • Brain Health From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Aging)
  • Chemo Brain (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
  • Well-Aged Mind: Maintaining Your Cognitive Health From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish

Specifics

  • Amnesia (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Brain Fog (Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation) - PDF
  • Dissociative Disorders (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
  • Transient Global Amnesia (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Amnesia From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Memory From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Memory Disorders From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

  • Article: Memory reactivation during rest forms shortcuts in a cognitive map.
  • Article: Time Alters Distinct Memories Driven by Sensory Prediction Errors and Task...
  • Article: Developmental Pb exposure increases rate of forgetting on a delayed matching-to-sample...
  • Memory -- see more articles

Reference Desk

  • Agnosia From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
  • Prosopagnosia From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Find an Expert

  • National Institute of Mental Health From the National Institutes of Health Also in Spanish
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke From the National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute on Aging From the National Institutes of Health Also in Spanish

Children

  • Memory Matters (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Older Adults

  • Memory, Forgetfulness, and Aging From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

  • Memory loss (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Mental status testing (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Remembering tips (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Topic Image

Memory

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

  • Memory loss
  • Mental status testing
  • Remembering tips

Related Health Topics

  • Alzheimer's Disease
  • Dementia
  • Mild Cognitive Impairment

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The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

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