Ask HN: Is your memory as bad as mine?

#1

Post by drukenemo » Fri, Dec 02, 2022, 6:07 PM UTC

I've never had great memory. And as I age (41) it feels like it's getting worse, which is kind of expected. For example, I've just watch a World Cup football match. 20 minutes later, talking to someone about it, I could only remember the winning country (South Korea), and wasn't sure who the opponent was (Portugal or Uruguai). Uruguai was playing another match at the same time, so I forgot who played against who a little after both matches ended.

I do generally have an OK working memory, have a decent paying job, but frequent lapses like that one worry me.

Does anyone else have a similar struggle and is there anything you think I could do about it?

Re: Ask HN: Is your memory as bad as mine?

#2

Post by ninethirty » Fri, Dec 02, 2022, 6:17 PM UTC

Not enough context. Do you only watch football once every four years? Probably you don't care enough and have enough context of strategic moments to create memories. The more you care + context, the better the memory will be, see LeBron + Magnus. { https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG6M2xQZvj0 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC1BAcOzHyY }

Re: Ask HN: Is your memory as bad as mine?

#3

Post by ryanklee » Fri, Dec 02, 2022, 6:21 PM UTC

Are you depressed? Do you have any substance abuse issues? Do you have sleep quality issues? If yes to any of those, bingo, very likely. (Think real hard before saying "no" to any -- these problems can be hard to spot, sometimes.)

If you don't have any of these problems, then, yes, if what you are describing is typical for you, you may have something else going on and potentially worth asking a medical professional about. (And of course, if you do have any of these issues, talk to a medical professional, in any case.)

We all have lapses of memory, but in healthy adults, they tend not to interfere in normal day-to-day functioning.

Re: Ask HN: Is your memory as bad as mine?

#4

Post by johnorourke » Fri, Dec 02, 2022, 6:27 PM UTC

Mid-life burnout/overwhelm and long term low-level stress can all contribute, in my and my team's. experience. You've not mentioned gender either - menopause in women can cause brain fog etc.

You end up feeling like "25 year old me was so much sharper and quicker, wtf?!"

Assuming that: you work in tech; you're probably not neuro typical; you've developed so many coping strategies for life's ups and downs you don't even think about them;

... have a look at what does stick in your mind. Are you spending a lot of brain power on underlying anxious thoughts, stuff that's always flying around your head that maybe focusing on work helps to ease? Is your mind acting like something's hogging the CPU?

Re: Ask HN: Is your memory as bad as mine?

#5

Post by 748 » Fri, Dec 02, 2022, 6:29 PM UTC

I have been getting more and more episodes of "not remembering the obvious", I forget words and even big events like the mode of transport (plane, train) I used on a trip. I started to forget things more and more while I used to have a very precise memory, but lately it's been failing on some things. It worries me. I don't use any substances but I used to do a little bit of alcohol abuse in college. The main factors that I suspect might be - diet rich in sugars, absence of any physical activity, a few years of semi-depression that is getting better now and an insane amount of stress that makes me rather numb. But yes, this is a new thing for me.

Re: Ask HN: Is your memory as bad as mine?

#6

Post by drukenemo » Fri, Dec 02, 2022, 6:33 PM UTC

ninethirty wrote: post #2

Not enough context. Do you only watch football once every four years? Probably you don't care enough and have enough context of strategic moments to create memories. The more you care + context, the better the memory will be, see LeBron + Magnus. { https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG6M2xQZvj0 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC1BAcOzHyY }

Actually yes, only watch it every four years. More like a world cup kind of guy. But I thought I was interested enough while watching it and that my memory should have retained such a basic fact. Honestly I’ve considered the possibility you mentioned, that it could be related to interest. But I’m afraid it doesn’t explain it all.

Re: Ask HN: Is your memory as bad as mine?

#7

Post by thebigspacefuck » Fri, Dec 02, 2022, 6:35 PM UTC

It’s never been great. I can barely remember what I did over the weekend or if I read a book I can’t remember what happened in it, just that I liked it. Asked my dad about it and he said he’s always been the same way which made me feel quite a bit better. On the flip side I’m great at remembering where I put things or where things are. I have piles of crap I can instantly recall the contents of when needed. When my SO cleans though it throws me for a loop.

Re: Ask HN: Is your memory as bad as mine?

#8

Post by drukenemo » Fri, Dec 02, 2022, 6:37 PM UTC

johnorourke wrote: post #4

Mid-life burnout/overwhelm and long term low-level stress can all contribute, in my and my team's. experience. You've not mentioned gender either - menopause in women can cause brain fog etc. You end up feeling like "25 year old me was so much sharper and quicker, wtf?!" Assuming that: you work in tech; you're probably not neuro typical; you've developed so many coping strategies for life's ups and downs you don't ev…

Thanks for your answer, very insightful really. I suspect I might have some of the issues you’ve mentioned. Two follow-up questions if you don’t mind

Do you track your sleep quality, and if so using which method?

I do work in tech. What do you mean by not being neuro-typical?

Re: Ask HN: Is your memory as bad as mine?

#9

Post by Random_BSD_Geek » Fri, Dec 02, 2022, 6:37 PM UTC

I forgot the question.

Re: Ask HN: Is your memory as bad as mine?

#10

Post by andreysolsty » Fri, Dec 02, 2022, 6:37 PM UTC

I’ve noticed this since the lockdowns in 2020/21. We were locked down quite heavily in the UK and the days just started to blend into one. So it’s understandable that my memory during that period would not be great, particularly recalling when things happened. However - since we got back to normal it hasn’t recovered. I forget half the things that happened in the last year until I see photos reminding me. Stuff that feels like it happened recently happened a year or two ago, and vice versa. My partner has the exact same issue.

I was pro lockdown (until we got the population vaccinated) and I still believe that was the right thing to do. But I also think there are knock on effects small and large that we are going to feel for a long time. My memory being out of whack is definitely one and I’m curious if anyone else has seen a similar change?