Brain & Nervous System Alzheimer's Symptoms Short-Term Memory and How It's Affected by Alzheimer's By Esther Heerema, MSW facebook twitter linkedin Esther Heerema, MSW, shares practical tips gained from working with hundreds of people whose lives are touched by Alzheimer's disease and other kinds of dementia. Learn about our editorial process Esther Heerema, MSW Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Diana Apetauerova, MD on November 13, 2019 linkedin Diana Apetauerova, MD, is board-certified in neurology with a subspecialty in movement disorders. She is an associate clinical professor of neurology at Tufts University. Learn about our Medical Review Board Diana Apetauerova, MD on November 13, 2019 Print Short-term memory is thought of as the brief period of time that you can recall information that you were just exposed to. For example, after hearing a phone number and repeating it a couple of times, you may be able to remember it long enough to dial it accurately. In five minutes, however, it’s unlikely that you can recall that phone number. Maria Fuchs / Getty Images Capacity of Short-Term Memory Our short-term memories usually hold between 5 to 9 items of information. This capacity can be extended by using memory strategies, such as chunking information or attaching meaning to it. You can also hold information indefinitely in your short-term by rehearsing it (repeating it over and over), which may result in it eventually being transferred over to your long-term memory as well. Clinicians' Definition Some people, including doctors and psychologists, may define short-term memory more in hours, days, or weeks. For example, if it’s late afternoon and you can’t recall what you ate for breakfast or you forgot that you went to the doctor four days ago, your physician may call that "short-term memory impairment." Technically, information from a few hours ago better fits into the term intermediate memory: the time period that bridges the gap of approximately a few minutes and extends into a day or two. However, that term is used with far less frequency. How Is Short-Term Memory Affected by Alzheimer's Disease? Short-term memory impairment is one of the earlier symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. It can cause people to forget the question they just asked or where they set their glasses down. Repetition of questions and behaviors is often a result of short-term memory impairment in dementia. Other Causes of Short-Term Memory Impairment It's normal to be concerned if you experience an occasional memory lapse, but you can rest reassured that not all short-term memory problems are a sign of Alzheimer's. There are also some benign reasons your memory might be less than stellar, such as when you're juggling too much in life. Memory can be inhibited by one or more of the following: Acute GriefChronic DepressionStress/Feeling OverwhelmedFatigueADD/ADHDReversible conditions like normal pressure hydrocephalus or vitamin B12 deficiencyMild Cognitive ImpairmentOther kinds of dementiaDelirium from an infection or illnessHead injuries Assessment If you notice a persistent problem with your short-term memory or someone else has identified this as a concern, you should seek an evaluation to determine the cause and appropriate treatment. If it's related to a reversible condition, you'll be able to address the cause and improve the symptoms. If it's caused by a dementia like Alzheimer's, early treatment has thus far been the most effective in maintaining cognitive functioning and can help you cope with that new diagnosis. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! When it comes to Alzheimer's, the MIND diet has shown promise in reducing risk and promoting brain health. Sign up for our Alzheimer’s and Dementia Newsletter and get your free recipe guide today. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. The Newsletter of the Memory Disorders Project at Rutgers University. Glossary.