Forgetting names and losing keys? Before you panic - the expert reassures

Dr. Tommy Wood, a professor of pediatrics and neuroscience, reassures that everyday forgetfulness is not necessarily a sign of dementia, but often stems from stress, fatigue, or lack of concentration. He explains the stages of memory and emphasizes that addressing health issues and lifestyle can help maintain brain function.

Dr. Tommy Wood, a professor of pediatrics and neuroscience at the University of Washington, reassures in an interview with Fox News that everyday forgetfulness, such as losing keys or struggling to recall a name, is not necessarily an early sign of dementia. According to him, in many cases forgetfulness results from stress, fatigue, or lack of concentration, not a serious brain problem. Wood explained that the memory creation process consists of three stages: encoding, consolidation, and retrieval. When a person is stressed or sleep-deprived, the problem is often in the retrieval stage – the memory exists but is hard to access. In contrast, in degenerative diseases, the issue is in the encoding stage. Wood also noted that at least 50% of dementia cases are linked to modifiable risk factors, such as treating hearing or vision problems, controlling blood pressure, and physical activity. He emphasized that the belief that cognitive decline can be prevented is key to taking action. The article details additional factors that may resemble dementia but are treatable: vitamin deficiencies, thyroid disorders, medication side effects, depression and anxiety, and metabolic issues.