Even though a woman may occasionally forget where she put her eye glasses, most memory losses are totally normal and are a treatable symptom of menopause. One study uncovered that women in menopause are 95% more likely to get lapses in memory over women who have yet to enter the menopause life stage. This means that memory lapses are almost guaranteed to occur in women experiencing menopause. Learning more about menopause memory lapses, such as the different kinds, their functions, and their symptoms, may be helpful.
What are memory lapses
The dictionary defines memory as the mental ability to remember facts, events, or past experiences. Therefore, memory lapses occur at certain times when a person does not have the mental ability to remember information. Most women between the ages of 45 and 55, claim that they have memory problems when they get closer to menopause. These normally occur in the form of small bits of forgetfulness, such as when a woman cannot remember things like names or dates, especially those bits of data that were just learned.
Since memory is a very complicated phenomena, researchers are trying to determine exactly how it works. The major way to manage memory problems is by understanding all about memory. There are various kinds of memory, some of which are affected by memory lapses during menopause.
Kinds And Functions Of Memory
Memory is divided into two parts: short term and long term. There are many kinds that make up the complicated functions of memory.
Short term Memory: Also referred to as working memory, it is the capability to recall information for small amounts of time such as a phone number for as long as it takes to get dialed. These memories are forgotten after the task is finished. If not, the brain would be filled with useless data.
Recent Memory: Being able to remember daily activities and learn new information.
Sensory Memory: Being able to remember smells, sights, and sounds.
Long Term Memory: Also called remote memory, it involves such things as the distant past and events from childhood, past trips, or things that happened last week.
Declarative Memory: Being able to remember word meanings, facts, and general information of the world along with autobiographical memories.
Procedural Memory: Being able to recall motor skills, like walking, eating, or riding a bike.
How Memory Works
- Acquision: Information stored in short term memory
- Retention: Information stored in long term memory
- Retrieval: Information remembered from long term memory
Memory Lapses And Menopause
Two kinds of memory are affected in women who get memory lapses: short term and recent memory. Women who deal with memory lapses usually claim that they experience ‘brain freeze” when attempting to recall where they left their car keys or when they enter a room to get something and forget what it was that they were looking for in the first place. Remembering names, dates, or addresses, can escape a woman who gets memory lapses during menopause, especially after she gets the information.
Symptoms Of Memory Lapses
The biggest most common symptom of memory lapses is not being able to remember information when it is needed. There are also other secondary symptoms of memory lapses that exist as well.
- Thinking that is hazy
- Poor concentration
- Not remembering a recent event and then recalling it later
Know all causes of memory lapses.
