However, older depressed people often think they are 'going senile'. In fact, older people who complain to their doctors of bad memory are much more likely to be suffering from depression than dementia. If we are very anxious or worried, we may not be able to concentrate. We may panic when we really need to remember something. This often happens in exams or interviews.
Anxiety can affect memory at any age.
Age Most of our powers weaken as we get older, and memory is no exception. This makes it harder to learn new skills in later life, although not impossible. Many people over 65 don't let this put them off, and are able to finish university courses. However, many older people do gradually find it harder to remember. The main problem seems to be that, the older we are, the longer it takes us to get the information from our memory when we need it.