It is normal to experience some forgetfulness, but there are several common types of memory problems:
Problem | Description |
---|---|
Transience | Natural fading of memories over time. |
Absentmindedness | Failures in attention that lead to forgetting. |
Blocking | Temporary inability to retrieve information (tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon). |
Misattribution | Remembering information correctly but with wrong context. |
Suggestibility | Memories altered by misleading information after the event. |
Bias | Current feelings or beliefs influence memories. |
Persistence | Unwanted memories, such as traumatic events, that persist. |
Severe memory problems, such as those caused by Alzheimer's disease, result from brain damage and progressively impair cognitive functions.