Dementia can indeed cause people to forget where they put their glasses. This is a common example of the memory problems associated with dementia, which goes beyond the occasional forgetfulness seen in normal aging. Dementia disrupts the brain’s ability to process, store, and retrieve information, leading to persistent and progressive memory loss that interferes with daily life, including misplacing everyday items like glasses[1][6].
Normal aging may involve occasional forgetfulness, such as misplacing glasses or keys, but the person usually remembers later and these lapses do not significantly affect daily functioning. In contrast, dementia causes more severe memory loss that affects short-term memory and the ability to perform routine tasks. People with dementia may repeatedly lose track of where they put things and may not remember even after searching for them[1][2][3].
The reason dementia leads to such memory problems lies in the damage it causes to brain cells and brain structures responsible for memory and cognition. For example, Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, involves the buildup of abnormal proteins in the brain, nerve cell death, and brain shrinkage. These changes impair the brain’s ability to encode new memories and retrieve stored information, which explains why someone with dementia might frequently forget where they placed their glasses or other objects[2][3][7].
This memory loss is often accompanied by other cognitive difficulties such as disorientation to time and place, trouble following conversations, and impaired judgment. The inability to remember the location of important objects is one of the early signs of dementia and can worsen as the disease progresses[1][4][6].
It is important to distinguish between normal forgetfulness and dementia-related memory loss. Occasional misplacing of glasses is common with aging, but if the forgetfulness becomes frequent, consistent, and interferes with daily activities, it may indicate dementia. Early evaluation by a healthcare professional is crucial for diagnosis and management[1][2].
In summary, dementia can make people forget where they put their glasses because it impairs the brain’s memory functions in a way that is more severe and persistent than normal aging. This symptom reflects the underlying neurological damage characteristic of dementia conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Sources:
[1] Times of India – Dementia and normal aging: Here’s what you know (and what you don’t)
[2] Wogensen Neurology – 5 Alzheimer’s Myths Busted by a Neurologist
[3] Rafu – A Cure for Alzheimer’s — Getting Close
[4] Saga – 7 unusual and early signs of dementia you might miss
[6] Aegis Living – What are the 7 Stages of Dementia?
[7] Times of India – Why Alzheimer’s patients forget loved ones? New research may finally have an explanation and potential treatment
