Brits forget an average of 1,095 things a year, such as their partner’s phone number, birthdays – and where they’ve parked the car.
A study of 2,000 adults found they forget something on average three times a day – including why they entered a room, what they were about to say, and other people’s names.
Others don’t remember to take food out of the freezer to defrost for dinner, or what they went to the supermarket to buy.
And a further 15% of absent-minded respondents will make a hot cup of tea – then totally forget to drink it.
More than one in ten (11%) blame the lockdowns for adding to their memory woes, due to lack of brain stimulation.
But 32% put it down to getting older, while the same amount believe they have too much on their plate to keep track of it all.
It also emerged adults believe their memory really starts to fail them at the age of 41 years and 10 months.
Professor Hana Burianová, a cognitive neuroscientist working with supplement brand Healthspan, which commissioned the report, said: “Our brains overload when we have lots of different things going on, and with a limited processing capacity this impacts our attention and memory.
“Brain ageing actually begins as early as our twenties, but generally people don’t think about brain health until they hit their forties at the earliest.
“The brain is complex and intricately connected with the rest of the body, so incorporating brain-health habits as early as possible will impact on long-term brain health outcomes, and improve memory and other cognitive processes.”
The study also found one in four adults believe stress causes them to forget things.
And a third claim a lack of memory has impacted on their confidence and even the ability to do everyday tasks, and therefore impacted on their health.
Rob Hobson, head of nutrition at Healthspan, which commissioned the report to highlight its “Love Your Brain” supplement, said: “Diet is important for every organ in the body, and this includes the brain.
“Research has shown how sticking to the Mediterranean diet is associated with better cognition, lower rates of cognitive decline, and a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
“It’s also clear that food that is beneficial for your heart is also beneficial for your brain.
“Smart pills, such as nootropics which contain a combination or “stack” of ingredients known to enhance brain function, can support mental performance, cognitive and psychological function.”
Bleary-eyed Brits also feel they’re more likely to make a mental mistake first thing in the morning, shortly after waking up.
More than a fifth (21%) often find themselves struggling to remember their passwords for various accounts, while 16% suspect technology has caused them to be less reliant on their own memory.
More than one in ten (12%) have even fallen out with someone because they forgot their birthday, according to the OnePoll figures.
To try and fight off embarrassment at forgetting something, over a third (34%) will laugh it off and make a joke of the situation.
But 14% are so concerned they will make a note of it, and continue to track any other potential symptoms of diminished brain activity.
Prof Burianová added: “The brain has the ability to change and evolve through the lifetime – this process is known as neuroplasticity.
“Mental muscle strengthening, such as learning something new – a fact, a dance, or a language – helps improve primary cognitive functions such as sensation or attention, as well as higher-level cognitive functions like memory, decision making, or problem-solving.
“Our brain loves new things, but it’s obviously not always possible to seek out novelty on a daily basis.
“A mundane task can, therefore, be revamped by simply “being present” when doing it.
“Take brushing your teeth – this simple act, next time you do it, concentrate on it and nothing else, the taste of the toothpaste, the feeling in your mouth, the motion of the toothbrush – as if this is a new experience.”
THE TOP 50 THINGS BRITS FORGET ON A DAILY BASIS:
- Why you went into a room
- What you were going to say
- Someone's name
- Your passwords
- To take food out of the freezer to defrost
- How to spell something
- To drink a cup of tea while it is warm
- What day of the week it is
- What you went into the supermarket to buy
- To phone someone
- To take carrier bags to the supermarket
- Your glasses
- To take the washing out of the washing machine
- To water the plants
- Your phone
- To charge your mobile phone
- To do something at work
- Where you put your car keys
- Phone number of family and friends
- A friend or family member's birthday
- Your own phone number
- How to pronounce something
- Where you parked the car
- Your purse/wallet
- How to get somewhere
- To post a letter
- Your umbrella
- Your partner's phone number
- To turn the lights off in the house
- What you planned to cook for dinner
- The quickest way to get somewhere
- To replace the toilet roll
- Important appointments such as doctor and dentist
- That you're meant to be on a diet
- To say thank you for something
- Your lunch
- Children's school events, such as “wear what you like” days
- Your coat
- To lock the house
- To tell the children to do their homework/take it into school
- To lock the car
- To turn off the iron
- To meet a friend
- To pick up the children from a club/sport/school
- To send Christmas cards
- Your anniversary
- To turn off the tap
- The recipe for a favourite dish
- When the children's inset days are
- To put the handbrake on in the car
HABITS FROM PROFESSOR HANA BURIANOVÁ THAT CAN BOOST YOUR BRAIN AND IMPROVE YOUR MEMORY:
- BE SOCIAL – Social interactions improve brain health. How often you stimulate your mind, and even the quantity – and quality – of your rest, all play a role. Daily micro-interactions – for example, having a quick natter with a stranger at a bus stop, in a queue at a supermarket, or by the watercooler – are very important for social connectedness.
- CALM THE MIND – Rest is key for our brains. When you sleep, your brain remains highly active. It is when memory consolidation takes place, which is essentially your brain filing all the things you have learned.
- STAY ACTIVE – While sleep and rest might be important for a healthy brain, staying active and getting your heart pumping can be equally beneficial. Being active increases your heart rate, which pumps more oxygen to the brain.
- NUTRITION MATTERS – Evidence is beginning to shape our understanding of how food is linked to brain health, and this includes thinking, memory, improved cognitive function, and reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Specific foods linked to brain health include omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins B, D and E, choline and flavonoids, creatine, and caffeine.
- MICROBES MATTER – A diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and oily fish – a bit like a Mediterranean diet – helps promote the health of gut bacteria that produce butyrate/ butyric acid and other fatty acids.
- INVEST IN LEARNING – When you learn something new, your brain forms new connections and associations. Without physical exercise, your muscles will weaken, and it’s the same for the brain. This mental muscle strengthening improves primary cognitive functions such as concentration and memory, and higher-order cognitive functions like decision making and problem-solving. Studies have indicated that continued learning over our lifespans lowers the chance of developing dementia.
- CLEVER PAIRINGS – Caffeine is known to help improve mental alertness, and it is also used to overcome fatigue – used often among athletes. Studies have suggested that combining L-theanine with caffeine helps boost cognitive performance and alertness.
- REDUCE BRAIN AGEING – The brain shrinks with increasing age. A lack of sufficient nutrients needed for its repair can often lead to changes in shape. Dietary antioxidants are often highlighted for their ability to preserve brain youth, as are vitamins such as B12, B6, and vitamin D3. Stress, alcohol, smoking, lack of exercise or too much exercise can also contribute to brain ageing.
