Do You Have Brain Drain?

Reader's Digest CanadaUpdated: Aug. 28, 2012

Read each statement below. If it sounds like something you would be likely to say or that generally describes your experience, check “True.” If it does not describe your experience, check “False.”

Before you begin, try to remember this short list of words: tree, faucet, luncheon.

1. My friends and/or coworkers joke about my forgetfulness.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
2. If I’m introduced to someone, chances are I won’t remember his or her name an hour later.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
3. When I’m having a casual conversation, I often find myself struggling to think of the right word.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
4. When reading a book or long magazine article, I often have to go back and re-read passages because my attention wanders.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
5. It is not unusual for me to say, “Could you repeat that, and slowly?”
	? TRUE ? FALSE
6. I sometimes worry about my memory.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
7. My memory isn’t bad; it just might take me a little longer to think things through.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
8. I frequently misplace things I use daily (keys, pens, cellphone, grocery list).
	? TRUE ? FALSE
9. I don’t trust myself to do even simple math without a calculator anymore.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
10. I find it very difficult to add numbers in my head.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
11. I couldn’t function without a calendar or written schedule-I need something to remind me of important dates and appointments.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
12. I have a lot of stress in my life.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
13. It is not unusual for me to say, “What were we talking about again?”
	? TRUE ? FALSE
14. More than once a week, I forget why I went into a particular room or closet.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
15. I do better if I focus on a single thing at a time-I don’t like multitasking.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
16. I don’t like adding new electronics to the house-I barely learned (or didn’t learn) how to work the DVD player.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
17. It feels as though the world is running at a much faster pace than I am-people seem to be constantly waiting for me.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
18. It is difficult for me to hold more than three numbers in my mind.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
19. My abilities in games of skill and strategy (for example, Bridge or chess) would be better if my memory were better.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
20. I routinely take more than three prescription medications per day.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
21. I have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, depression, or heart disease.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
22. I smoke.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
23. I quit smoking less than 20 years ago.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
24. I can’t seem to find enough time to exercise-twice a week is a lot for me.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
25. I have a sweet tooth and indulge in candy, pastry, or desserts almost every day.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
26. I get lost often, probably because of my poor sense of direction.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
27. Thank heavens for speed-dial; I can’t seem to remember phone numbers anymore.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
28. People often tell me that I already told them the same story or joke before.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
29. When I go to the store to get groceries or materials for a project, I almost always forget something and have to go back.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
30. It feels as though I go through life with that feeling that a name or fact is “on the tip of my tongue.”
	? TRUE ? FALSE
31. I know what I want to do; I just have a difficult time figuring out how to accomplish my goals.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
32. Organization is not a strong point for me.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
33. I often find it difficult to persuade people of my opinion, or to make a reasoned argument against someone else’s opinion-my thoughts just don’t come out as organized as I want them to be.
	? TRUE ? FALSE
34. I often “get lost” while watching a movie or reading a book-plots seem to be much more complicated these days.
	? TRUE ? FALSE

Originally Published: August 28, 2010

Do You Have Brain Drain?

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