Brain expert reveals when forgetfulness could be a warning sign — and when it probably isn’t, tell me about this news in (https://www.foxnews.com/video/6405705286112)

In this Fox News segment, Dr. Tommy Wood, a professor of pediatrics and neuroscience at the University of Washington, addresses the common fear that everyday lapses in memory might indicate neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Here are the key takeaways from the discussion:

• Common Causes of Everyday Forgetfulness: Dr. Wood explains that minor forgetfulnesssuch as misplacing car keys or temporarily forgetting a familiar nameis typically driven by everyday lifestyle factors like stress, fatigue, multitasking, and lack of sleep rather than early-stage brain disease.

• Noticing Your Forgetfulness Is a Reassuring Sign: One important neurological distinction Dr. Wood highlights is that simply being aware of your own forgetfulness is actually a positive sign. In conditions like Alzheimer’s, individuals often experience anosognosia, meaning they lack awareness of their memory loss and deficits, whereas family members or friends are usually the ones to notice first.

• The Mechanics of Memory: He breaks down memory into neurological stages (encoding, storage, and retrieval). Everyday forgetfulness usually represents a breakdown in focus or retrieval due to distraction or exhaustion, rather than the brain failing to store information.

• When It Could Be a Warning Sign: Red flags arise when memory lapses begin interfering with daily functioning, such as getting lost in familiar locations, struggling to follow familiar routines, repeating the same questions without realizing it, or experiencing noticeable personality and behavioral changes.