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I Can't Think of Words: Is It Simple Forgetfulness or the Start of Dementia?

Have you ever experienced a moment during a conversation where a familiar word just wouldn't come to mind, or you hesitated because you couldn't remember the name of a close acquaintance? You know the information is there, but it won't come out, which is frustrating and might even lead to anxiety about whether it's an early symptom of dementia. You might dismiss it as just getting older, but as it becomes more frequent and intense, it's natural to worry. This "word-finding difficulty" could be a significant warning signal from your brain.

💡 [Key Answer] The 3 most common causes of difficulty recalling words: ① Autonomic imbalance due to brain fatigue and stress / ② Early stage of cognitive decline (Mild Cognitive Impairment) / ③ Insufficient brain nutrition and decreased blood circulation. Dalimchae Clinic focuses on treatments that restore brain function and improve cognitive abilities through autonomic nervous system stabilization.

Forgetfulness in daily life is a natural phenomenon that anyone can experience. Forgetting where you put your keys or not immediately remembering last night's dinner menu falls into this category. However, if "difficulty recalling words" becomes frequent and interferes with daily life, it may be a sign of an early stage of cognitive decline, specifically Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).

MCI refers to a state where there is a decline in specific cognitive domains such as memory, language ability, and concentration, but daily living activities are not yet significantly impaired. At the center of this cognitive decline are excessive brain fatigue and stress, which lead to autonomic imbalance, decreasing brain activity and weakening the function of the hippocampus, the area responsible for memory. In particular, stress is known to cause nerve cell damage and promote brain inflammatory responses, negatively affecting cognitive function.

Yes, it can. Our body's autonomic nervous system consists of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, regulating essential functions for life such as heartbeat, digestion, and sleep. However, persistent chronic stress or brain fatigue can disrupt the balance, leading to excessive activation of the sympathetic nervous system, causing a constant state of tension in the brain.

An overactive sympathetic nervous system hinders the supply of sufficient blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the brain, lowering the metabolism of brain cells and generally weakening brain function. This can lead to cognitive problems such as decreased language ability, memory loss, and poor concentration. Furthermore, autonomic imbalance is often accompanied by other symptoms like insomnia, headaches, and dizziness, making brain recovery even more difficult. At Dalimchae Clinic Incheon, we focus on treatments that correct this autonomic imbalance to help the brain regain its natural function.

In Korean Medicine, brain function is seen as closely linked to the functions of the internal organs. Specifically, if the functions of the Heart (心), Spleen (脾), and Kidneys (腎) weaken, memory and concentration can decline, potentially affecting language ability. Dalimchae Clinic applies the following treatment principles to address the root causes of cognitive decline.

In a study published in the PMC journal in October 2024 by Choi Yu-jin's research team, the effectiveness of Korean Medicine treatment for patients with MCI was reported. In this study, 17 patients with MCI (average age 69.5) received a 6-month combined Korean Medicine treatment including herbal medicine, acupuncture, and pharmacopuncture. The results showed that the total MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) score increased by an average of 3.24 points compared to before treatment, confirming the cognitive improvement effect. Additionally, CIST (Cognitive Intelligence Screening Test) scores increased, and GDepS (Geriatric Depression Scale) scores decreased, positively impacting the improvement of depressive symptoms. The researchers concluded that these results suggest that Korean Medical intervention can be effective in improving the cognitive function of MCI patients. Dalimchae Clinic Incheon approaches cognitive decline issues, such as word-finding difficulties, through these multifaceted Korean Medicine treatments.

Furthermore, a large-scale study by Park Ye-ji's research team published in PubMed in 2021 verified the effectiveness and safety of the Korean Medicine Seniors Health Promotion Program (KSHPP). This study analyzed changes in MoCA-K (Korean version of MoCA) scores after applying Korean Medical treatments, including herbal medicine and acupuncture, to 500 MCI patients in the Seoul area. As a result, the MoCA-K scores in the entire patient group increased significantly by an average of 2.77 points (p < 0.0001), with a larger improvement of 3.22 points seen in the patient group with accompanying depression. This study suggests that herbal medicine and acupuncture are effective and safe in improving cognitive function and depressive symptoms in MCI patients. Moreover, a 2023 study published in the Frontiers journal involving 2,242 participants also showed significant effects of combining herbal medicine and acupuncture on cognitive improvement. Based on these clinical research data, Dalimchae Clinic helps brain function recovery and cognitive improvement through customized treatments considering each patient's symptoms and constitution.

Dalimchae Clinic's 'Autonomic Stabilization' Treatment Principle

Dalimchae Clinic focuses on resolving brain overload and restoring cognitive function through autonomic stabilization treatment. When the balance of the autonomic nervous system is disrupted, the brain cannot rest and remains in an overheated state. This is like an engine overheating and losing performance; no matter how good the information input is, the brain cannot process and store it correctly.

Korean Medicine emphasizes resolving this overheated state of the brain and lowering the heat of the nervous system. Through the principle of 'Suseunghwagang (水昇火降)'—cooling the upper body and warming the lower body—we create an environment where the brain can rest comfortably and normalize brain function by regulating the imbalance of neurotransmitters. This does not merely suppress symptoms but creates a fundamental environment where the brain can recover and activate itself, improving issues such as word-finding difficulties, poor concentration, and memory loss, and overall enhancing cognitive abilities. Such autonomic regulation is reported to have positive effects on cognitive improvement after stroke or changes in brain activity in MCI patients.

Check your current status with the following items:

• A commonly used word suddenly doesn't come to mind, interrupting the flow of conversation.
• Names of people or objects are on the tip of your tongue but won't come out.
• Frequently experiencing trouble because you forgot recent appointments or conversation details.
• Often forgetting where you put things or missing tasks you need to do.
• Finding it harder to learn new things or concentrate than before.
• Momentarily losing your sense of direction and getting lost on a familiar path.
• Repeating the same questions during a conversation or asking again because you didn't understand the content.
• Feeling like your brain is foggy when you have many thoughts or feel stressed.
• Making more calculation errors or finding complex tasks more difficult than before.
• Experiencing chronic fatigue or sleep problems, along with frequent headaches or dizziness.

Judgment Criteria:

• 3 or more items → Suspected stage of cognitive decline / Need to review brain fatigue and autonomic imbalance.
• 5 or more items → Possibility of Mild Cognitive Impairment / Recommended immediate detailed examination and treatment consultation.
• 7 or more items → Active Korean Medical intervention required / Consult for a customized treatment plan at Dalimchae Clinic Incheon.

Q. Can word-finding difficulty occur in young people? A. Yes, even in younger age groups, temporary cognitive decline and word-recall problems can occur due to excessive stress, chronic brain fatigue, and lack of sleep. In particular, excessive activation of the sympathetic nervous system can be a major cause of decreased brain function.

Q. Does cognitive decline always progress to dementia? A. MCI can be seen as a precursor to dementia, but not everyone progresses to dementia. Early detection and appropriate treatment and management can restore cognitive function or slow the progression to dementia. Korean Medicine treatment at Dalimchae Clinic Incheon helps increase this recovery possibility.

Q. Can taking herbal medicine help improve brain function? A. Various clinical studies have confirmed that herbal medicine has positive effects on improving cognitive function and memory in MCI patients. Specifically, prescriptions like Gamiguibi-tang have been reported to stably maintain activity in memory-related brain regions and increase functional connectivity.

Q. I feel depressed or anxious along with cognitive decline. Can they be treated together? A. Yes, cognitive decline is closely related to depression or anxiety and often appears together. Dalimchae Clinic's autonomic stabilization treatment not only improves brain function but also helps with overall mental and physical stability, effectively alleviating depression and anxiety.

Word-finding difficulty is not a problem that can be solved by just enduring it. You no longer have to ignore the signals your body has been sending for a long time. If you approach it in the right direction, your body reacts faster than you think. Bring your current symptoms as they are. We will find the cause together at Dalimchae Clinic.

Where life blooms. Herbal medicine is, after all, Dalimchae Clinic. Check your similar symptoms through the AI consultation on the Dalimchae Clinic website first!

This health information was compiled by the Dalimchae medical staff based on questions frequently received in the consultation room. Medical Supervision | Min Ji-hong, Korean Medicine Doctor, Dalimchae Clinic Incheon (Cognitive Decline Column) #CognitiveDecline #MemoryLoss #AutonomicNervousSystem #BrainFatigue #IncheonCognitiveFunctionClinic #IncheonKoreanMedicineClinic #ConcentrationDecline #KoreanMedicineTreatment #MildCognitiveImpairment #Forgetfulness