Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
About Memory
Every day, you have different experiences and you learn new things. Your brain cannot store all of that information, so it has to decide what is worth remembering. Memory is the process of storing and then remembering this information. There are different types of memory. Short-term memory stores information for a few seconds or minutes. Long-term memory stores it for a longer period of time.
Memory doesn't always work perfectly. As you grow older, it may take longer to remember things.
It's normal to forget things once in a while. We've all forgotten a name, where we put our keys, or if we locked the front door. If you are an older adult who forgets things more often than others your age, you may have mild cognitive impairment. Forgetting how to use your phone or find your way home may be signs of a more serious problem, such as:
- Alzheimer's disease
- Other types of dementia
- Stroke
- Depression
- Head injuries
- Blood clots or tumors in the brain
- Kidney, liver, or thyroid problems
- Reactions to certain medicines
If you're worried about your forgetfulness, see your health care provider.
It sits within Mental Health and Behavior, Older Adults and Brain and Nerves.
When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.
Research on Memory
2,382 studies areregistered for this condition on ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's public registry. A selection is below — the links go straight to the registry entry, not to a summary of ours.
What a registered study does and does not mean. Registration means a study exists and has been declared publicly. It says nothing about whether the treatment being tested works, is safe, or is available to you. Many studies find no benefit — that is what research is for. Never seek out an experimental treatment on the strength of a registry entry alone.
Research currently under way
- Enhancing Memory in Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSDVA Office of Research and Development
- HOBSCOTCH-YOUTH and Young AdultsDartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
- Thinking and Memory Problems in People With HIVNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
- Study of Repetitive Behaviors in Alzheimer's DiseaseCentre Hospitalier Esquirol
- Studies of Blood Flow to the Brain During ThoughtNational Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- Genetically Modified T-cells in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Refractory Malignant GliomaCity of Hope Medical Center
Research already completed
- CIML NK Cell in Head & Neck CancerDana-Farber Cancer Institute
- Enhancing Children's Cognitive Function and Achievement Through Carotenoid ConsumptionUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Clinical Effectiveness of Choline Alphoscerate for Older Adults With Major Depression and Subjective Memory ComplaintsSamsung Medical Center
- Attention, Memory and Quality of Life in Post-COVID-19 AdultsJade Carvalho Da Silva
- Fundamental Movement Skills Training Improves Executive Functions in PreschoolersXi'an Physical Education University
- Reinstatement of Context During Sleep and Its Subsequent Effect on Memory: an fMRI StudyNorthwestern University
Study data from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2026-07-30. Registry entries are supplied by study sponsors and investigators; ClinicalTrials.gov does not verify their scientific validity. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH.
Where to read more
Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.
Start Here
- Understanding Memory Loss: What To Do When You Have Trouble RememberingNational Institute on Aging
Diagnosis and Tests
- Cognitive TestingNational Library of Medicine
- Memory Loss: When to Seek HelpMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Treatments and Therapies
- GinkgoNational Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
- Medications for Memory, Cognition, and Dementia-Related BehaviorsAlzheimer's Association
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Memory Loss: 7 Tips to Improve Your MemoryMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Related Issues
- Brain HealthNational Institute on Aging
- Chemo BrainMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Well-Aged Mind: Maintaining Your Cognitive HealthNational Institutes of Health
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: AmnesiaNational Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: MemoryNational Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Memory DisordersNational Institutes of Health
Medical subject headings
Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Memory, Memory Disorders. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.
This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Memory, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.