Many people have problems with their memory after a stroke, especially in the first weeks and months.  

What is memory?

We store all kinds of information in our memory. We also have different types of memory for storing information for different lengths of time. This is known as short-term and long-term memory. 

• Short-term memory is like a temporary storage place for information. It allows you to remember things just long enough to use them. For example, when you read a telephone number, you use your short-term memory to remember it for the few seconds it takes you to dial. This is also known as working memory. 

• Long-term memory keeps information you will need to recall later, such as events and feelings from the past. 

Why has my memory been affected? 

Stroke often affects short-term memory more than long-term. Someone might find it hard to remember something they have just been told, but might recall something that happened 10 years ago.  

Memory problems may not always be due to a problem with your memory itself. They can often be due to problems with attention and concentration. This is because if you’re unable to focus on what you’re being told, you will not remember it later. 

If you have difficulty sleeping after your stroke, this may also make it harder to remember things. This is because your brain needs sleep to move information from short to long-term storage. 

Emotional problems like anxiety can also make it hard to concentrate. This can make you feel as if you have memory problems. 

Signs of memory problems 

If your short-term memory has been affected, you may find it difficult to remember:  

• What someone just said to you. 
• What you were about to do. 

If your long-term memory has been affected, you may find it difficult to remember: 

• Important dates or when you’ve got an appointment. 
• Where you’ve put something. 
• Someone’s name or what they told you last time you met. 

What can I do about my memory?

Write things down

• Keep a notepad and pen with you or take notes on a smartphone. Make a note of small tasks as you do them. Then you’ll know if you’ve fed the cat or phoned someone. 

• Write short notes after you’ve spoken with someone, such as your doctor or a conversation with a friend. Then you can remind yourself of what you talked about the next time you see them. 

• Use a calendar or diary to keep track of appointments and important dates. You can also ask your GP surgery and other healthcare providers to text you appointment reminders.  

Use prompts

• Set a timer to remind you to take your medication. You can also use reminder apps on smartphones, tablets or smart speakers. 

• Leave things like your keys or wallet near the front door, so you’ll see them when you go out. You can also buy small electronic trackers to attach to important items, to help you find them if you misplace them. 

• Add pictures of people next to their details in your contacts book, to help you remember who they are. 

• A pill or dosette box can help you organise the medication you need to take each day. Then you can easily see whether you’ve taken it or not. Your pharmacist may be able to sort your medication into special packs for you, so you know what you need to take each day. 

Put reminders where you will see them 

• Leave notes in noticeable places. Buy a pen you can use to write on your bathroom mirror, or set up a whiteboard somewhere obvious. 

• You could put up signs in the kitchen to remind you to turn off the cooker, or on the back of the door to remind you to lock it when you go out. 

Keep things in the same place 

• Labels or pictures on cupboards and drawers will help you know where things are stored. 

• Try to remove unnecessary clutter to make important items easier to find. 

• It may help to keep your glasses on a chain around your neck, to stop you losing them. 

Plan your day

• Keep to a routine and do certain tasks, like taking your medication or locking your doors, at the same time every day. 

• Write a ‘to do’ list for the next day before you go to bed. That way you’ll know what you have to do as soon as you get up. You could make it part of your routine at the end of every day, perhaps with a family member or carer. 

• Tiredness and stress will make it more difficult for you to concentrate, take in information and remember it later. Leave extra time to do things. Make sure you plan time to rest throughout the day as well. 

Try mental techniques 

• Verbal prompts can help. Some people use acronyms or sayings to help them remember things. The acronym ‘SLAC’ could help you remember to Set the alarm, Lock the door And Close the gate when leaving the house. 

• Try using mental pictures. For example, if you need to remember an address on Clifton Road, picture a road leading up to a cliff. 

• Focusing on a particular feature can help you remember people. You may remember that your consultant is the doctor with curly hair, rather than the one with glasses. 

Some people find repeating information can help them remember it. When you’re told something new, you could get someone to ask you a few seconds later if you remember it, and then again a few seconds after that. Once you’ve remembered it for a short period, it may be more likely to stick.