I used to have a photographic memory. I could remember contents of pages and even page numbers where the contents could be found in books I’ve read. Now, I’d be lucky if I remember the title of a book, any book.

My fading or loss of memory worries me. It frustrates me more. I was like a reference library or the Google of names, faces, facts, dates, times, places, directions and trivia. As a secondary school student at the St. Nicholas Convent in Alor Setar, I enjoyed learning history and regional geography. Simply because I could remember dates, events and names of conquerors as well as countries, locations, peoples and what they produced, exported and imported.

I also excelled at trivia. I used to organise quizzes when I was in the English and Debating Society during my sixth form at the Sultanah Asma Secondary School, also in Alor Setar. I had and still have two favourite trivia questions that I even asked my husband, back when we were girlfriend and boyfriend. The capital of Mongolia and the weight of a baby elephant. The first answer is Ulan Bator and the second is 120 kg. At least, I still remember the answers without having to Google them. Not for long, I’m afraid.

Now, I cannot recall anything quickly. It’s there. At the tip of my tongue. Or somewhere in the muddled maze that I call my brain. It’s not that I cannot remember at all. I can. Usually after the fact. Too late, I say. My brain needs triggers. Multiple choices is my sliver of hope.

I forget words mid-sentence. The harder I try, the longer it takes for the words to emerge. I need spell check to make sure some of the longer and complicated words are spelt correctly. I forget peoples’ names and telephone numbers. Twice, I forgot where I had parked my car. The latter was largely due to chatting and not paying attention. These days, I take a photo of the pillar or bay number when I exit my car.

I watch movies and don’t realise I have already watched them until mid-way or worse until the very end. There is a twinge of familiarity but no bells ring. No recollection. Recently, my husband and I watched, yes, I actually couldn’t remember for a minute there – Notting Hill – with Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. We both knew we had watched the movie before. We knew the storyline. Not much else. We kept asking each other as the different scenes appeared if either of us remembered any of it. Negative. Thankfully, I have a husband, who has an equally hopeless memory for movies. Though unlike me, he is good with numbers, and remembers them. He has a very structured and analytical mind, and recollects work-related stuff incredibly well. Me, on the other hand, own a sieve-like brain. With the sieve-holes getting scarily bigger, every day.

I was concerned enough to Google memory loss. To learn whether mine was simply age-related or something more sinister like dementia. Apparently, it’s normal to forget things once in a while as one ages. But, serious memory problems make it hard to do everyday things like driving, using the phone, and finding your way home[1]. Phew. I heaved a sigh of relief as my memory lapses, while frustrating, do not prevent me from doing the everyday want to and have to do things. Not yet, anyway.

Some useful tips to help deal with forgetfulness include learning something new and a little challenging like a new skill/language/dance, establishing a daily routine, making to-do lists, and using calendars and notes. Placing personal belongings – purse, handbag, keys, mobile phone, and glasses – in the same place each day, spending time with family and friends, sleeping soundly, exercising and eating well, and not drinking too much alcohol.  I ticked most of the boxes except for sleeping well and eating right.

Interestingly or frighteningly, the time to schedule an appointment with a doctor is when one starts to repeat questions, gets lost in familiar places like the neighbourhood park and/or supermarkets and has trouble following recipes or directions. I have to admit I easily forget ingredients and instructions when I am baking and cooking. Directions? I can’t read maps. I use buildings as landmarks. Thank goodness for Waze. Next stage is confusion about time, people, and places. And not taking care of oneself — eating poorly, not bathing, or behaving unsafely. Hmm…

Just in case, I started with one brain exercise two weeks ago. I learn an unfamiliar word a day. I write down the meaning. After a week of accumulating the words, I quiz myself. It’s working somewhat. The plan is to persevere. A word a day keeps the brain from atrophying. I hope.