Your husband had a stroke six months ago. He can still drive a car and tie his shoes, but he asks you the same question three times in an hour. Your mother has Parkinson’s, and while she remembers stories from 40 years ago in vivid detail, she can’t recall what she did this morning.
If you’ve been confused by these seeming contradictions (how can someone remember some things perfectly while struggling with others?) you’re asking exactly the right question.
The answer lies in understanding that memory isn’t one thing. Your brain has multiple, distinct memory systems, and neurological conditions often affect them differently.
Working memory holds information you’re actively using right now: following a conversation, doing mental math, or remembering instructions someone just gave you.
This is often the first system affected after stroke, TBI, or in early MCI. If you or your loved one keeps losing track mid-conversation, forgets what they were about to do, or needs instructions repeated multiple times, working memory is likely involved.
The hopeful news: working memory can often be strengthened through targeted cognitive rehabilitation and speech-language therapy.
Episodic memory stores the events of your life: what you did yesterday, your last birthday, that conversation from this morning. It’s heavily dependent on the hippocampus, a brain region vulnerable to damage from stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and prolonged seizures.
When someone asks the same question repeatedly or doesn’t remember a recent conversation, episodic memory is usually the culprit. This can be one of the most distressing changes for families to witness. Understanding why it happens can make it easier to respond with patience rather than frustration.
Trying to understand your loved one’s memory changes? Our assessments pinpoint exactly which memory systems are affected, so you know what you’re dealing with and what kind of support will actually help.
Book a ConsultationProcedural memory handles learned skills: riding a bike, buttoning a shirt, playing a familiar song on piano. It’s processed through different brain circuits than other types of memory, which is why someone with significant episodic memory loss may still be able to perform familiar physical tasks.
This is actually good news for rehabilitation. Our psychomotor therapy in Dubai works with this preserved system, using movement-based approaches to support overall cognitive function and quality of life.
Semantic memory stores general knowledge: facts, concepts, word meanings. It tends to be more resilient than episodic memory, which is why someone with dementia might remember historical facts but not what they had for lunch.
However, when semantic memory is affected, word-finding becomes difficult. If you’re struggling to come up with the names of everyday objects, or using vague terms like “the thing” more often, this may be the system that needs support. This is something our speech-language therapists specialize in.
When you understand which memory system is affected, everything changes. You stop expecting your loved one to “just try harder.” You understand why certain strategies help and others don’t. And you can get targeted support that actually addresses the specific problem.
A comprehensive assessment at Talking Brains Center evaluates all of these memory systems, giving you a clear picture of strengths and challenges. From there, we build a treatment plan tailored to your specific situation, whether that involves speech therapy, psychotherapy, psychomotor approaches in Dubai, or a combination.
Confused about what’s happening with your memory, or a family member’s? Book a consultation to discuss your concerns and learn about assessment options.
Book a Free Consultation📞 +971 55 896 7482 | ✉️ info@talkingbrainscenter.com