Socola Study: 6 in 10 Romanians Quickly Forget Essential Details. When Should We Be Concerned

We are forgetting simple things with increasing frequency, and a recent study conducted by specialists at the Socola Institute of Psychiatry in Iași confirms this with concrete data: six in ten Romanians quickly forget details they heard just a few seconds earlier.

According to the study's findings, only four in ten participants managed to answer all the requirements of the memory test correctly. More worryingly, 15% of participants were unable to retain information they had only just heard — a proportion double that of the previous year.

Cristina Dobre, the manager of the Socola Institute of Psychiatry, highlights the value of such straightforward assessments: "With a very simple test — one that costs nothing, causes no pain, and draws no blood — if we apply it, we can obtain important information about mental health."

In one of the cases presented, a patient scored 29 points out of a maximum of 30 on the memory test. The doctor who assessed her explained: "The issue was slight on the attention side, particularly with calculations. It's the most common problem, in a way, because that part involves attention and concentration."

Many people recognise these episodes of forgetfulness from their everyday lives. Anca, one of those interviewed, shares: "I'm in the car and I find myself wondering: 'Did I turn it off? Did I turn the lights off?' Yes, I have those moments too. I forget some things because I'm in a rush."

Elena Ungureanu, a psychiatrist at the Socola Institute of Psychiatry, explains one of the reasons behind this phenomenon: "We are bombarded with a great deal of information, many responsibilities, and numerous tasks to complete. At some point, our attention becomes scattered."

Others describe similar experiences: "What I was looking for at that moment. You go to do something and you freeze — you don't know what you went for," says one person, whilst another adds: "Stress, fatigue! We even forget what day it is."

What specialists recommend

For those experiencing mild memory lapses, doctors recommend:

• changing dietary habits
• engaging in physical activity
• ensuring sufficient hours of sleep

If these measures bring no improvement, specialists stress that it is necessary to seek medical help.