The TRUTH About Word Finding Troubles

Picture this. You’re having a lively conversation with a friend, and suddenly, find yourself grasping for a word that’s just out of reach.

You KNOW it’s in there somewhere, hiding in the recesses of your mind.

But no matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to pin it down.

When you have trouble word finding should you be worried? Could being tongue-tied be linked to cognitive decline?

If you’re over 50, you might be all too familiar with the frustrating scenario I described above.

Lethologica, or difficulty word finding, is a common occurrence that tends to happen more frequently as we age.

It’s that annoying tip-of-the-tongue feeling where you can almost taste the word you’re looking for, but it just won’t come out.

While experiencing lethologica can make you feel like you’re losing your marbles, occasional word-finding trouble isn’t necessarily a sign of a serious problem.

In fact, a recent study from the University of Toronto sheds some light on what might be going on when we struggle to find words.

The researchers gathered a group of 125 healthy adults, aged 18 to 90 and asked them to describe a scene in detail. They recorded these descriptions and used AI software to analyze various aspects of their speech, including…

  • talking speed,
  • the length of pauses between words, and
  • the variety of words used.

But here’s where it gets really interesting.

Researchers also used a clever “picture-word interference task” to separate the two steps in naming an object—finding the right word in your mental dictionary and telling your mouth how to say it aloud.

This allowed them to better understand what’s happening when we experience lethologica.

It turns out that the speed of speech in older adults was linked to how quickly they could name pictures.

This suggests that as we age, we experience a general slowdown in cognitive processing, which is likely an underlying cause of word-finding difficulties and other age-related changes in language and cognition.

If you occasionally struggle to find the right word, it’s probably NOT a sign of cognitive decline… it’s just a normal part of aging.

The speed at which you speak is a more accurate indicator of your brain health, rather than how often you experience lethologica.

So, the next time you find yourself trying to find that whatchamacallit or describe that thingamajig, don’t worry too much about it.

P.S. Feeling forgetful lately? Check your fridge for this MEMORY thief.

Source:

Wei, H. T., et. Al., (2024). Cognitive components of aging-related increase in word-finding difficulty. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, 1–32. doi. org/10.1080/13825585.2024.2315774

Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

View More Free Articles

7 Natural Ways to Tackle Pain Without Pills

On Tuesday, we explored a promising new frontier in pain relief: terpenes, natural compounds found in cannabis (and other plants) that may ease pain without the risks of opioids. That research is still developing. But what if you’re looking for help right now? Good news: You don’t have to wait for a pharmaceutical breakthrough to...

Read This

Mailbag: Pinched to Pain Free with Natural Sciatica Solutions

“I have been suffering from sciatic pain in my hip and groin. I try to do exercises to stretch it. But ever since I slipped on the ice and fell on my left hip it seems to be getting worse. Is there any help for this?” -Painfully Pinched Dear Pinched, I understand how frustrating sciatic...

Read This

New Cannabis Discovery Could Ease Pain—Without the High

A few years ago, everywhere you turned, someone was talking about CBD. The cannabis extract had exploded in popularity for everything from anxiety to inflammation to joint pain. And while the CBD conversation continues, another cannabis compound is quietly making headlines. One that could—believe it or not—provide relief from all kinds of pain. Without the...

Read This

"Sinful Trio" SLASHES Metabolic Syndrome Risk

Are you tired of hearing your doctor’s endless “don’t eat this, don’t drink that” lectures? Well, this Easter Sunday, I’ve got news that might just have you hopping happily to your pantry. Turns out, some of life’s tastiest pleasures could help protect you from one of today’s most common health threats—metabolic syndrome. Let’s dig into...

Read This

Microplastics’ Hidden Link to Chronic Disease EXPOSED

By now, you’ve heard about microplastics. These tiny fragments of plastic have invaded virtually every corner of our planet. We’re just beginning to understand the scope of the threat, but we know microplastics pose a serious risk to our health. If you’re like many folks, you’ve shrugged off those dangers, thinking there’s nothing you can...

Read This

Shakespeare’s “Remembrance” Herb Protects Memory

You probably have a jar of rosemary sitting in your spice rack. Perhaps you sprinkle it on potatoes or add it to roast chicken. But what if this humble herb could hold the key to fighting one of the most devastating diseases we can face as we age? It turns out a hidden compound inside...

Read This

Is Your Gut “Good”? How to Check

I always get asked, “How do I know if my digestion is working right?” Well, the answer is pretty simple, but it’s also a little gross. A simple test you can do at home reveals whether your digestion is normal or not. Your digestive system processes everything you eat—extracting nutrients, and eliminating waste. The time...

Read This

Hidden Sugar Trap Fuels Lung Cancer

We’ve long known that smoking is the main villain behind lung cancer. But what if your dinner plate has quietly joined forces with the enemy? A new study from the University of Florida reveals that the typical Western diet could be laying the groundwork for aggressive lung cancer growth by feeding tumors with stored sugar....

Read This

Mailbag: Can A Diabetic Enjoy Desserts? The Surprising Answer

“If you have diabetes, may you eat a very few sweets in a week?” —Sweet Tooth Hi Sweet Tooth, Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition where your body either resists the effects of insulin (a hormone that regulates sugar in your blood) or doesn’t produce enough of it to maintain normal blood sugar levels....

Read This

Sleepless Nights? Beware of this Deadly Danger

We all have that friend who brags about their four-hour-a-night sleep schedule like it’s some kind of superpower. “I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” they proclaim while chugging their third energy drink of the morning. Well, science has bad news for these sleep-skimping show-offs. You might be accelerating your appointment with the Grim Reaper far more...

Read This