Normal forgetfulness can look like this: You walk into a room and forget why you went in.

You lose a word mid-sentence and find it two minutes later. You set your keys down somewhere unusual and spend ten minutes retracing your steps. You forget a name shortly after someone says it.

The National Institute on Aging notes that occasional forgetfulness, taking longer to recall information, and misplacing things can happen with normal aging. The Menopause Society also reports that difficulty concentrating, distractibility, word-finding problems, and forgetfulness are common during the menopause transition, and that these changes are usually mild.

Midlife also asks a lot of the brain. Hormonal changes, disrupted sleep, stress, emotional load, and the sheer volume of responsibilities women carry can all affect concentration and memory. The Menopause Society notes that cognitive function during midlife can be influenced by menopause stage as well as symptoms such as sleep problems and mood changes. Your brain has to prioritize and sometimes things slip through.

I cannot keep reading the numbers, seeing the gaps, and simply moving on to the next topic. This challenges me to do more — to educate more Black women and families about brain health, to make the information easier to understand, and to put practical tools and resources into people’s hands before a crisis forces the conversation.

Awareness is no longer enough for me. I want to help turn awareness into action.

Here is where the conversation has to get honest. Forgetfulness that becomes progressively worse over time—not just a stressful week or a rough season, but a consistent pattern—deserves attention.

Asking the same questions repeatedly. Getting lost in places you know well. Becoming increasingly confused about time, people, or places. Having difficulty following familiar recipes or directions. Struggling with everyday tasks that used to be manageable. Those are some of the signs the National Institute on Aging recommends discussing with a healthcare professional.

The point is not to diagnose yourself. The point is to recognize when a pattern deserves a conversation with a healthcare professional.

Some causes can improve when the underlying problem is identified and treated. So when something seems different, do not automatically assume the worst. But do not automatically dismiss it either.

Here is where the numbers deserve our attention.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2026 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures, almost two-thirds of Americans living with Alzheimer’s are women. The report also estimates that, beginning at age 45, the lifetime risk of developing clinical Alzheimer’s dementia is about 1 in 5 for women compared with 1 in 10 for men. At the same time, the Association cautions that women’s longer average lifespan contributes to the higher prevalence, and researchers are still studying sex differences in risk.

Race adds another layer.

Older Black Americans are about twice as likely as older White Americans to have Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia. Researchers have not identified a single cause for that disparity. Vascular health, socioeconomic conditions, discrimination, access to healthcare, and other social and health factors may all contribute.

Then there is access to care.

Only 20% of Black Americans surveyed by the Alzheimer’s Association said they experienced no barriers to excellent Alzheimer’s care and support. Half reported having experienced discrimination while seeking care for someone living with Alzheimer’s, and fewer than half said they were confident they could access culturally competent care. Diagnosis disparities have also been documented. An analysis supported by the National Institute on Aging found that Black participants in Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers had 35% lower odds of receiving an Alzheimer’s or related dementia diagnosis at their initial visit than White participants, even though Black participants showed greater cognitive impairment and symptom severity in several areas.

That should make us pay attention. Not panic. Pay attention. Because if a population carries greater disease burden while also experiencing barriers to diagnosis and care, waiting quietly is not a good strategy.

Earlier attention matters because memory problems can have many causes, and evaluation can help determine what is actually happening. A healthcare provider can review medications, health conditions, mood, sleep, nutrition, and other factors. Cognitive testing and other medical assessments may also help determine whether there is evidence of cognitive impairment or another treatable problem.

And midlife is an important time to pay attention to overall brain health. For example, high blood pressure during midlife has been linked to greater risk of cognitive decline later in life. NIH-supported research also points to cardiovascular health, physical activity, adequate sleep, social engagement, and management of chronic health conditions as important areas of brain-health research.

Notice what I am not saying. I am not saying that drinking enough water, sleeping well, walking every day, or doing crossword puzzles guarantees that you will never develop dementia. No responsible person can promise you that. What I am saying is that there are things we can do now to support our overall health and address known risk factors.

Every night of quality sleep. Every walk. Every effort to manage your blood pressure and blood sugar. Every meaningful social connection. Every effort to stay physically and mentally active.

Every conversation with your healthcare provider when something changes. Those choices matter.

You pay attention and stop waiting for a dramatic symptom before you start caring about your brain. You begin treating brain health with the same seriousness you give your blood pressure, your blood sugar, and your annual mammogram. You learn to recognize the difference between occasional forgetfulness and a pattern that is beginning to interfere with everyday life. You get curious about what your brain needs.

You talk with your healthcare provider when you notice meaningful changes. And when you see something in yourself or someone you love that seems to be moving from normal forgetfulness into something more concerning, you say something. You make the appointment and ask the questions. You advocate clearly in that exam room. Because your memory deserves more than:

“I’m probably just getting older.” Your brain deserves your attention too.

If this blog made you pause and think about your own memory, focus, or brain health, do not stop at awareness. In Her Right Mind: Midlife Memory and Focus Renewal is a 14-day faith-centered bootcamp designed to help midlife women understand what may be affecting their memory and focus and begin building practical habits that support clearer thinking.

We will look at sleep, stress, hydration, attention, everyday memory strategies, and more.

You do not have to wait until something feels seriously wrong to start taking care of your brain.

Enrollment opens soon, so stay tuned and be ready to give your mind the attention it deserves.

Blessings,

Dr. Janice R. Love