Partner very forgetful
My partner seems quite forgetful these days
for example in the past two years he has left numerous E-cigs on the train or in shops were he's been shopping at the time, only to remember once he's got off the train he hasn't got it or once he's half way home.
a few times he has left a bag with shopping in shop or the town centre somewhere where he has put the bag down for a moment than walked off without it
One time he left his wallet with over £100 in it in a shop, then 10-15 minutes later when he couldnt find his wallet in his pocket remember his mistake that he'd left it in another shop so then we'd have to trail around to every shop he'd been in to find his wallet.
A few times he will go the shop for electric/gas or milk or bread but forget to take his money or forget the gas/electric card so then will have to come back and get them and then return to the shop
If you ask him to get something from the shop he will sometimes forget as well, even though it's been mentioned several times
I have tried to help him by reminding him to check his seat before he leaves the train in case he's left things on it, I have told him he needs to start making sure he has everything with him before he leaves a shop/the house etc.. I am just making him aware that if he's more careful than maybe his forgetfulness/absent mindedness. He does have a tendency to rush about although he has got better with that.
the funny thing is he is only 40.
Not as if it's an age thing.
for example in the past two years he has left numerous E-cigs on the train or in shops were he's been shopping at the time, only to remember once he's got off the train he hasn't got it or once he's half way home.
a few times he has left a bag with shopping in shop or the town centre somewhere where he has put the bag down for a moment than walked off without it
One time he left his wallet with over £100 in it in a shop, then 10-15 minutes later when he couldnt find his wallet in his pocket remember his mistake that he'd left it in another shop so then we'd have to trail around to every shop he'd been in to find his wallet.
A few times he will go the shop for electric/gas or milk or bread but forget to take his money or forget the gas/electric card so then will have to come back and get them and then return to the shop
If you ask him to get something from the shop he will sometimes forget as well, even though it's been mentioned several times
I have tried to help him by reminding him to check his seat before he leaves the train in case he's left things on it, I have told him he needs to start making sure he has everything with him before he leaves a shop/the house etc.. I am just making him aware that if he's more careful than maybe his forgetfulness/absent mindedness. He does have a tendency to rush about although he has got better with that.
the funny thing is he is only 40.
Not as if it's an age thing.
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Has he got progressively more forgetful the last few years? The reason I ask is that early-onset Alzheimer's has been known to develop between ages 30 and 40, though it's quite rare at that age.
I'd suggest him making lists for things like shopping.
When I first met him 14 years ago he was fine. He would always be in a rush but would still remember things.
It's happened gradually over the last 5 years, but got worse well more noticeable anyway over the last 2 to the point it's even annoying him. When I mention it though he just says 'Stop going on about it.' but I all I am doing is trying to help him. In my own way, I am just trying to make him aware that he needs to be more careful.
He doesn't forget things like who people are, birthdays, appointments etc it just seems to be leaving things in shops, on trains and leaving his money at home when he's already at the shop.
He even loses things in the house that he will spend ages looking for, accusing other people of moving. Which they havent most of the time. It's just he forgets where he's put it. He blames the kids stressing him out, distracting him but the kids are not always with him.
I've heard about those early warning signs of Alzheimer's too. Do you think he should see a doctor?
We all forget things from time to time but this does seem excessive. I am in my 50s and I have the same wallet I bought in the 80s. I have never lost keys or left things in shops but I do occasionally leave garden tools behind when working.
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=164
It could be early onset dementia of any kind - not just Alzheimer's. Those symptoms are fairly classic of early stage but it could also be
A vitamin deficiency - notably B12.
Or alcohol related.
Or stress
Or a number of other conditions.
GPs or a Community Nurse will commonly test with various questions which can signpost to dementia. They are by no means failsafe though and they are not enough in themselves.
It needs checking out imo. Will he go to a GP? BTW I used to avoid the word Allzheimer's before diagnosis as it had such a scare factor and it could be any kind of a memory issue.
Is there any dementia in his family?
I'm unaware of his family medical history as he was adopted and his adoptive parents don't know either. His adoptive dad has early stages of dementia but that's not relevant really as he isn't a blood relative.
PS there are memory tests you can do online.
I'm a prolific list writer - go shopping with one every time. I also stick post - it notes on my kitchen cupboard door with things to do otherwise I would probably forget. Perhaps he needs to do this and accept it as a way of life if the GP finds nothing wrong !
That's probably the best course of action, to see a GP. If nothing else, it will, as others have said, at least rule out some things if they're not the problem. Hope everything works out OK.
Did you not know that dementia (Alzheimer's is just one kind) is a progressive condition?
Unless it's to do with a brain injury, you don't suddenly one day forget where you are. It starts with little things - including those listed by the OP.
There again some people did suggest some of the other possible causes including me.
A little tablet fixed mine...