Hi, heroreco, there are many reasons for memory problems, lack of focus and poor concentration.

For example, my first question would be if you're taking any medication, even OTC. People aren't surprised to learn that drugs taken for mental health issues can cause memory problems, but they're very surprised to discover that meds taken for things like cholesterol, urinary incontinence, allergies, and insomnia can cause serious memory problems. So bad, in fact, that it can mimic senility.

Of course, recreational drugs and alcohol can do the same.

Stress can also strain the memory because it causes the natural body chemical cortisol to be released. We need cortisol to function, but too much can actually prevent memories from being stored properly in the brain.

Sleep problems can do the same thing.

Head injuries can cause memory problems and not necessarily big coma inducing injuries, but a couple small knocks on the head causing small concussions can cause problems.

Even if we're having serious memory problems, we can remember certain things by putting purposeful concentration into remembering it. We focus on it and purposely store it as a memory. But it's really hard to do that with everything all the time.

What I'm saying is that it really can be a medical problem, just not an obvious one. Maybe it's time to make an appointment with your primary care provider to get this checked out. It could be a simple problem to solve.

I have a very good friend who is 78 years old, has always been sharp as a tack. A while back she told me she knew she was getting dementia. She couldn't remember a thing. She kept calling me Honey because she couldn't remember my name. She would get lost going to the grocery store. Turns out it was a medication she was taking for about six months. It was a rare side effect that took some time to build up. When her doc took her off it, her memory came back within one week.

Your doctor is the first place to start.