Tip-of-the-Tongue Memory Errors Common in Older Adults
Author: University of Michigan
Published: 2012/06/17 - Updated: 2026/02/19
Publication Type: Findings
Category Topic: Aging - Related Publications
Contents: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This research, funded by the National Institute on Aging and published in the journal Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, examined everyday memory errors among 105 healthy, highly-educated adults ages 65 to 92. Led by University of Michigan psychology professor Cindy Lustig, the study found that 61 percent of participants experienced tip-of-the-tongue errors, while about half reported absent-mindedness such as forgetting where they placed items or needing to re-read sentences. Importantly, the findings show that occasional memory lapses do not necessarily indicate Alzheimer's disease or dementia - though certain types of recurring errors should be monitored and discussed with a clinician. This is valuable information for seniors, people with cognitive disabilities, caregivers, and anyone concerned about age-related memory changes, as it helps distinguish normal forgetfulness from warning signs that may warrant medical attention - Disabled World (DW).
- Topic Definition: Tip-of-the-tongue Phenomenon
Tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon is a common cognitive experience in which a person feels certain they know a word, name, or fact but is temporarily unable to retrieve it from memory. It is one of the most frequently reported everyday memory failures, particularly among older adults, and is classified in cognitive psychology as a retrieval-based error rather than a storage failure - meaning the information is still in memory but the brain struggles to access it in the moment. While tip-of-the-tongue episodes tend to increase with age, they are considered a normal part of cognitive aging and are distinct from the progressive memory loss associated with conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, though a noticeable increase in their frequency may be worth discussing with a healthcare professional.
Introduction
When the Answer is On the Tip of Your Tongue
Has your memory failed you today, such as struggling to recall a word that's "on the tip of your tongue"? If so, you're not alone. New University of Michigan research indicates that "tip-of-the-tongue" errors happen often to adults ages 65-92. In a study of 105 healthy, highly-educated older adults, 61 percent reported this memory mishap.
The study's participants completed a checklist of the memory errors made in the last 24 hours, as well as several other tests. About half of them reported making other errors that may be related to absent-mindedness, such as having to re-read a sentence because they forgot what it said, or forgetting where they placed an item.
Main Content
The findings, which appear in the journal Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, may help brain-training programs target the memory problems people experience in daily life.
"Right now, many training programs focus on the age differences in memory and thinking that we see in laboratory studies," said Cindy Lustig, U-M psychology professor and the study's senior author. "However, those may not translate to the performance failures that are most common in everyday life."
When people are tested in the lab and have nothing to rely on but their own memories, young adults typically do better than older adults, she said. However, when these studies are conducted in real-world settings, older adults sometimes outperform young adults at things like remembering appointments because the former are likely to use memory supports such as calendars, lists and alarms.
"When we looked at how people performed on standard laboratory tests, we found the usual age differences," she said. "People in their 80s and 90s performed worse than those in their 60s and early 70s."
In contrast, no increase in daily memory errors was found based on age.
Meanwhile, researchers hope that a better understanding of the errors people are still making can improve training program efforts.
"We wanted to identify which errors still occur despite changes people might be making in their environment and routine," Lustig said. "That's where it may be especially important to change the person."
Lustig cautioned that an elderly person occasionally forgetting a name does not mean he's in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease or other dementias.
"Everybody forgets," she said. "However, our findings suggest that certain types of memory errors may be especially important to monitor for increases, which then should be discussed with a clinician."
Lustig said future research should identify how people change their lives to avoid errors. If people restrict their activities to avoid memory errors, it could affect their independence.
The National Institute on Aging funded the study.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: What stands out most about this University of Michigan research is its reassuring but measured message - forgetting a name or losing track of where you put your keys is a near-universal experience among older adults, not an automatic red flag for dementia. At the same time, the study makes a practical case for paying closer attention to which types of memory errors are increasing over time, because that pattern matters far more than the occasional slip. For seniors and their families who may worry at the first sign of forgetfulness, these findings offer a grounded framework for knowing when a conversation with a doctor is warranted and when a memory lapse is simply part of being human - Disabled World (DW).Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by University of Michigan and published on 2012/06/17, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.