If you’ve found yourself worried about memory problems lately, you’re not alone. Many of the people I speak to at Grow Neuro come to me because something just doesn’t feel quite right. They might be forgetting appointments, misplacing things more often than usual, or struggling to find the right words in conversation. Some people worry about early signs of dementia. Others just feel foggy or not as sharp as they used to be. It can be unsettling, and it’s completely understandable to want some clarity.
In this post, I want to walk you through what these memory problems might mean, what you can do about them, and how a cognitive assessment could help. My aim isn’t to alarm you or over-medicalise normal experiences, but to give you some straight-forward information so you can decide what feels right for you.
We all forget things from time to time. Memory isn’t perfect, and it never has been. Most of us have moments where we lose our train of thought, forget a name, or wonder why we walked into a room. These things are usually normal, especially when we’re tired, stressed or distracted.
There's a study I often like to tell people about. They asked a group of 127 people how often they experienced a range of memory problems. In this group, they found that at least once a week:
So who were these 127 people? Were they people with dementia? Brain injury? Some other neurological condition? No. They were completely healthy 27-year-olds.
The point I want to make is that we all have lapses in our memory. But when memory slips start to feel more noticeable, more frequent, or start to interfere with everyday life, it might be time to take a closer look.
Some signs that might be worth paying attention to:
These signs don’t necessarily mean something serious like Alzheimer's disease. But they do signal that it could be time to take a closer look.
Not all memory problems are permanent or linked to neurodegenerative conditions. Many are caused by treatable or reversible factors, such as:
That’s why it helps to get an objective view. A cognitive assessment can help differentiate between temporary issues and signs of something longer term.
Getting clearer about what’s causing memory changes doesn’t just offer peace of mind – it also means you can take steps in the right direction.
For example, if your memory is affected by low mood or anxiety, psychological support, tDCS, or lifestyle changes might help you feel more like yourself. If there are early signs of neurological change, catching them early can open up more options and help you plan in a way that feels proactive, not reactive.
A good assessment can help tease apart what’s normal for your age, what might be linked to other health factors, and what (if anything) points to a neurological issue. It’s about building a clearer picture, not rushing to conclusions.
A cognitive assessment is a structured way of looking at how different areas of your thinking are working. That might include memory, attention, problem solving, language, and other skills that help us navigate everyday life.
At Grow Neuro, we offer two main types of assessment: a cognitive health review and a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. The right option depends on your needs and concerns.
A Cognitive Health Review is ideal if you're looking for a focused check-in to explore early, subtle, or uncertain changes in thinking skills. It can offer clarity and peace of mind, especially if you're not sure whether a full assessment is needed.
A Full Neuropsychological Assessment is more appropriate when cognitive difficulties are persistent, complex, or significantly impacting daily life. It involves an in-depth evaluation of how different thinking skills are working together, using advanced psychometric testing to support diagnosis, care planning, or rehabilitation.
Whichever option is right for you, the aim is the same: to offer clarity, insight, and useful next steps.
A typical assessment includes:
People often tell me they find the process surprisingly interesting. It can help you understand how your brain works, what your strengths are, and where things might be feeling harder than they used to. It’s not a test you pass or fail – it’s a tool for understanding.
If you’re not sure whether a full assessment is right for you yet, you might find it helpful to take a moment to reflect on your everyday experiences. That’s why I created the Thinking Skills Self-Check – a simple, free download based on a validated cognitive questionnaire.
It gives you a way to explore how often you experience memory lapses in daily life and how much they affect you. It won’t diagnose anything, but it can help you notice patterns or changes, and decide whether it’s time to speak to a professional.
If you’d like a copy, you can download it here.
Some people I see have already spoken to their GP and want a second opinion or more in-depth exploration. Others are nervous about bringing it up, or feel their concerns have been brushed aside.
Your GP can be a good starting point, especially if blood tests or medical checks haven’t been done yet. But while they are very experienced clinicians, they are not experts in this area and don't have the advanced knowledge needed to accurately interpret cognitive difficulties. In the NHS, they also aren't able to refer their patients directly to the people who are experts in this area, neuropsychologists.
Whether you decide to speak to your GP or book an assessment with a private neuropsychologist, what matters most is listening to yourself. If something feels different, it’s okay to take that seriously.
Worrying about your memory can feel lonely. But you're not alone, and you're not imagining it. There are ways to explore these changes. You don’t need to wait until things get worse to ask for support.
If you're looking for a starting point, the Thinking Skills Self-Check is a simple, free way to reflect on your experiences and decide what next step might make sense for you.
And if you do want to talk things through more closely, I’m always happy to explore whether an assessment might be helpful. You can get in touch or book an appointment now through our website and we can explore what support would be right for you.