Have you ever lost your glasses while you’re wearing them, or walked into a room and completely forgotten why you went there? Most of us put moments like these down to “getting older”, but are they really something to worry about?

In this episode, I revisit some of the most reassuring insights from my conversation with Dr Mitch Clionsky, who explains why everyday forgetfulness is usually benign, often linked to tiredness, stress, hormones, or simply having too much on our minds. We explore why dementia is not inevitable, why only a very small percentage is genetically caused, and how things like sleep, blood pressure, hearing, and lifestyle play a far bigger role than we’re often led to believe.

This is a calm, practical, and hopeful look at memory in midlife, and a reminder that there are many things we can do to protect our brains and live well as we grow older.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit joblackwellmidlifeandbeyond.substack.com