Where Did I Leave My Glasses?: The What, When, and Why of Normal Memory Loss

ForanyBabyBoomerwhohaseversaid,"Hasanyoneseenmykeys?"..."WhatdidIcomeinherefor?"...or"Hisnameisonthetipofmytongue,"WHEREDIDILEAVEMYGLASSES?isthetailor-madebook.AccordingtoMarthaWeinmanLearandthetopmemoryexpertsshetapsinthebook,thememorylapsesthatbegininmiddleagearetypicallynocauseforalarm.Inotherwords:You'renormal!Infact,rememberinglessinlateryearsisrarelyasignofAlzheimer'soranyotherscarymemory-losscondition.It'sjustapartofnormalaging.Onherhuntforanswers,Learexploreswhynamesarethefirstthingstogoandwhatcanbedoneaboutit,whyweforgetcertainthingsonpurpose,whyweforgetmorethanourparentsdidandinwhichcasesourbrainsareactuallydoingusafavorbylettinggoofcertainknowledge.Weavingtogetherfascinatinginsightfrompsychologists,neuroscientists,andevolutionarybiologistswithrichandoftenhilariousanecdotes,Learexploresthewhysandwhereforesofgarden-varuietymemoryloss,and,intheprocess,offersreassuranceandhopetothemillionsofforgetfulbabyboomers.