Symptom 6. Misplacing Things and Losing the Ability to Retrace Steps: The Lost and Found Dilemma
Misplacing objects is a common experience for most people. Who hasn’t forgotten where they left their keys or glasses? But for individuals with aMCI, this typical human behavior escalates to a more serious level. They may misplace items more frequently and find it almost impossible to retrace their steps to locate these objects.
This isn’t about the usual forgetfulness where you eventually remember where you put your items after some thought. This involves placing items in unusual locations and being unable to remember how or when it happened. It could be as baffling as finding your wallet in the refrigerator or your watch in the sugar jar.
Imagine the frustration that builds up when your everyday belongings seem to play a constant game of hide and seek with you. More so, when this game extends beyond objects to include abstract concepts such as keeping track of tasks or information.
Interestingly, this symptom of aMCI may be tied to the deterioration of the brain’s executive functions, specifically, those associated with planning, organization, and attention to detail. As such, the symptom offers a fascinating insight into how the brain orchestrates these tasks under normal circumstances.
Bear in mind that this symptom is more than occasional forgetfulness. It’s a frequent and recurring challenge with memory and thought processes that goes beyond the normal aging process and may point towards aMCI. (6)
