Is there an explanation of why short memory would be effected before long term ?

charley0419

Just curious you’d think you would forget things from years and years ago first. Nothing makes sense with this illness.

M1

Actually it does make sense Charley. It's like water channels, or roads in a,way-the newest ones are shallow and not deeply ingrained. The oldest ones are deep and have been reinforced over years and years and years of the same pathways being used. So although one footstep where someone walked may not be visible, the ancient Natchez Trace near my home is still visible now even though it's not used any more. Those old childhood memories are the neurologic equivalent of the Natchez Trace.

Quilting brings calm

Short term memories don’t always become long term memories even for a normal brain. We move items into long term memory if it’s something important, or happened in a memorable way, or repeated, etc., otherwise we discard it. We don’t retain every visit we make to a gas station, but we know we go there often. Short term memories seem to be stored in an area of the brain that is extremely easy for dementia to damage. As if the brain knows it’s temporary storage and doesn’t protect it. Long term memories are in a different area of the brain than short term memories - areas that seem to resist the ravages of dementia the longest. Think of short term as being an open porch, while long term is a locked room in a locked house.