Forgetting things can be annoying and worrying. As you grow older, those trends make us wonder if we are getting dementia. According to a new theory in the journal Nature Reviews Neuroscience, there are several key points:
· First, we have to remember that, at any moment, we’re all exposed to far more stimuli than we could pay attention to, never mind remembering accurately, even just seconds or minutes later.
· Second, forgetting some things — maybe most things — is a natural mechanism of the brain, without which it would be almost impossible to function in daily life.
· Finally, the brain must promote access to specific memories — ideally, the most useful ones.
Memories are stored in ensembles of neurons called ‘engram cells,’ and forgetting occurs when engram cells cannot be reactivated. Rather than being a bug, forgetting may be a functional feature of the brain, allowing it to interact dynamically with the environment.
Forgetting memories can be beneficial, leading to more flexible behavior and better decision-making.
If memories were gained in circumstances that are not wholly relevant to the current environment, forgetting them can positively improve our well-being. When you remember- “what you forget” is usually not a sign of dementia. In dementia, though, there are other signs like language problems, task difficulties, and forgetting what was learned in the past.