From losing your keys to forgetting the dog’s name: 5 common ‘oops’ moments (and whether you should be worried)

You know your car is somewhere in the carpark. So, you’re pressing the fob like a lunatic, hoping for a reassuring beep. Oh, hang on, was it this level… or the one above?

Or you call your husband the dog’s name (‘Sorry, Colin – um, Max – oh, you know who I mean!’). Later, the thought creeps in: is this stuff just one of those things or something more serious?

The good news? Experts say most of these memory blips are perfectly normal, especially as we age and not the slippery slope to dementia we sometimes fear.

1. Misplacing your keys

You know you put them down somewhere. Now you’re late, rifling through the fruit bowl like a detective.

Normal or not? Totally normal, says Taylor. As we get older, we’re slightly less sharp at ‘encoding’ new memories, like where we dropped the keys, especially if we’re distracted at the time.

Other causes: Stress, poor sleep, multitasking or certain medications, such as some antihistamines or antidepressants.

When to worry: ‘If you’re regularly misplacing things and finding them in odd places – such as keys in the fridge — or you can’t retrace your steps, see your GP,’ advises Taylor.

2. Can’t find your car in the car park

Who knew there were so many dark blue SUVs in the world? But where on earth did you leave yours?

Normal or not? Forgetting where you parked, especially in an unfamiliar multi-storey, is normal. Studies show spatial memory – where things are or how we get to them – can become less sharp with age. A 2012 Applied Cognitive Psychology study into this exact situation found older adults had slightly more trouble locating their cars than younger people.

Other causes: Anxiety, being preoccupied, or rushing (aka every time you make a supermarket dash).

When to worry: If you’re getting lost in very familiar places, like your own street, it’s time to check in with your GP.

3. Mixing up family names (and the dog’s)

We’ve all done it, reeling off family names until you hit the right one, or accidentally calling your partner ‘Rover’.

Normal or not? Normal. A 2016 Duke University study of over 1,700 people found 95% had been misnamed by a family member.

Professor Samantha Deffler, who led the study, explains: ‘We found people tend to group names into groups, such as family, colleagues or friends. Naming errors typically happen within a category.’ Pets, she adds, often sneak into that mental ‘family folder’.

Other causes: Hormonal changes such as menopause, stress or simply being surrounded by lots of family.

When to worry: If you regularly forget the names of people you know well or struggle to recognise familiar faces, book a GP appointment.

4. Walking into a room and forgetting why you went there

You find yourself standing in the bedroom, wondering why you even came upstairs.

Normal or not? Absolutely normal. Psychologists call it the ‘Doorway Effect’. Crossing into another room seems to reset mental focus, clearing short-term memories to make space for new ones.

Taylor notes age doesn’t make this more frequent – but older people may worry more and remember these lapses more vividly.

Other causes: A 2021 University College London study linked the Doorway Effect to multitasking. If you want to remember why you’re heading upstairs, keep repeating it in your head.

When to worry: If it happens several times daily and affects your ability to manage tasks, see your GP.

Losing a word mid-sentence

‘You know, the thing… the hot thing… makes toast?’ (Toaster, fyi.)

Normal or not? Normal. This ‘tip-of-the-tongue’ phenomenon becomes more common as our brain’s filing system slows with age.

Other causes: Dehydration, vitamin B12 deficiency, or medication side-effects.

When to worry: If you frequently struggle to find words, substitute the wrong ones (‘I want the spoon’ instead of ‘fork’), or loved ones comment, get it checked out.