Why does one have trouble remembering words?

Question

I have trouble remembering the words I want to use. This has been going on for a few years, but seems to be getting worse. I was just trying to offer somebody some soup - and I couldn't remember the word "minestrone" to tell them what kind it was. The other day - a child was telling me that they were going to do a biopsy on a dead body. I told them that biopsy wasn't the right word for it - but I couldn't think of the right word. I couldn't think of autopsy. I KNOW these words - and have used them often. This happens daily. Sometimes it's more than a few times a day. I'm only 50. What's going on?

Answer 1

I am 65 and this came on with a roar about 3 years ago.

More recently I am taking a massive amount of vitamins and that is helping enormously. Besides I just feel better in general.

Which ones are helping exactly I couldn't tell you but this is exactly what I toss down each day.

Acidophiles, B complex, C, Co Q 10, D,Iron, fish oil (I just read a study that this helps depression and mine is better)
a multivitamin to fill in for what I do not have separately, Oh yes magnesium and Ginko Biloba.

I felt and showed improvement in about 3 weeks. I started it last October.

I sympathize because I hate having those "word gaps" also.

Good Luck.

Answer 2

You're just 'aging' naturally, my dear. I'm 56 and have the same 'word' problem you described ... and it's NORMAL and natural. Did you know that the 'human mind' can hold only 'five things' in short term memory at any one time, and EVERYTHING ELSE goes into 'long term memory' and needs to be 'sorted' ... and that is a 'whole lot of sorting' to do whenever we are trying to think of 'the proper word' because we KNOW SO MUCH STUFF. Think of it that way ... that you are 'way well informed' and you won't 'miss' those 'lost words' nearly as much.