I'm 20 years old, my short-term memory is terrible!!!

[Unregistered]

If somebody were to ask me what I did yesterday, I would have to think very very hard. It's easier for me to remember what I did last night and then work backwards towards morning. Or if somebody refers to something that happend the other day I can't even remember what day that happend, or right when i'm about to say something I forget right when I'm about to say it. My mom goes through the same thing but she's 50! I'm twenty years old and I don't think this is normal. I'm a college student, very studious with a 3.5 gpa. Is there a vitamin I can take? Or should I go see a doctor. Somebody told me its because I drink too much diet coke and the aspartame (artificial sweetner in diet drinks) is what affect my short-term memory capacity.
Should I really be woried? Lay off the diet coke? see a doctor?

[Unregistered]

what did you say?

[Unregistered]

If somebody were to ask me what I did yesterday, I would have to think very very hard. It's easier for me to remember what I did last night and then work backwards towards morning. Or if somebody refers to something that happend the other day I can't even remember what day that happend, or right when i'm about to say something I forget right when I'm about to say it. My mom goes through the same thing but she's 50! I'm twenty years old and I don't think this is normal. I'm a college student, very studious with a 3.5 gpa. Is there a vitamin I can take? Or should I go see a doctor. Somebody told me its because I drink too much diet coke and the aspartame (artificial sweetner in diet drinks) is what affect my short-term memory capacity.
Should I really be woried? Lay off the diet coke? see a doctor?

Aspartame = brain tumors
It was not supposed to be legal to produced aspartame in liquid form ( sugar free soda). Thanks Rumsfeld for that one.
Take all the B's especially B-12.
http://www.beyondhealth.com/Articles/aspartame.htm

[CJ~]

If I were you, I'd go see a doctor. It may not be anything serious but I'd get it double-checked. I highly doubt it has to do with Diet Coke. My mother and many others I know, including a doctor, drink a lot of it and don't have a problem. Just my opinion. Let us know how you're doing.
God Bless.

[dudbubbin1]

diet coke?? ha! not likely.

check into what your sleep is like. if enough sleep is INTERRUPTED or you LOSE SLEEP ENTIRELY too much at night, THIS can give you bad short-term memory loss!! ive been there....

just so you know....good sleep hygiene is needed to rule-out that sleep is the cause. good sleep hygiene includes: at age 20, its a medical fact a person needs more than 8 hours sleep daily- try 10!!; dont skimp on getting all 10 hours or you'll suffer as you have been (or worse!), sleep in a dark & quite place & with a good temperature.

i mention this sleep thing because so MANY PEOPLE skip hours every night STUDYING (like i used to), going out with friends, etc.

if you're NOT skipping hours studying late, staying out, etc., then check into a SLEEP INTERRUPTION- this could be from all sorts of things, like: 1)a sleep disorder can cause "interruptions" & you wont even be aware its occurring!!; 2)chronic problems with loud neighbors who INSIST on being loud when you're trying to sleep; 3)any other medical conditions can mess up sleep, like a bladder infection can rob you of enough sleep that your memory cuts out!!

check into this. diet coke ISNT it.

[Unregistered]

i have the same problem and i'm 21

could be sleep...i've been averaging less than 6 for the past month

[Unregistered]

An overnight sleep study is in order. A person can get plenty of hours of sleep without getting the right amount of each of the stages of sleep needed to restore the body and brain. The brain is thought to process information during sleep much like a computer defrags, compartmentalizing things for easy retrieval. If you don't get enough of the stage of sleep where that happens, retrieval of memories and thought processing may become hindered.

[Unregistered]

I've had the same problem my entire life and I'm 23. Mine has nothing to do with sleep I can assure you. I have never sought medical advice about it but after reading up on it a little I think I might consider...Hope there is something that can help, people get so frustrated with me because I don't remember things!

[AmateurHistorian]

I've had the same problem my entire life and I'm 23. Mine has nothing to do with sleep I can assure you.

Well, the fact that you posted your question on the sleep disorders board seems to say that you at least suspect a sleeping problem. Have you talked to a doctor about it? The specialist you want will be either a neurologist or an ENT (ear-nose-throat), since some sleep problems such as apnea are caused by breathing difficulties.

[Adriana]

HI, I am 22 and I have the same problem! Did you see a doctor???? I can not remember the simplest things. People get frustrated with me and I get even more frusterated with myself. Let me know if you found anything out. Thanks.