How “Memory Style” Impacts Your Dementia Risk

What if your unique way of remembering could reveal secrets about your brain’s future? Picture this: your friend recalls every aroma, texture, and emotion from a meal five years ago, while you remember the address, price, and date with perfect accuracy. These differences aren’t just quirks—they’re clues. Scientists have now discovered that your memory style—episodic or semantic—may influence how your brain ages, and potentially even your risk of developing dementia. The findings are as fascinating as they are personal.

Key Takeaways

• Memory styles differ by individual – People tend to have either episodic (richly detailed) or semantic (fact-based) memory styles, each linked to distinct brain activity patterns.

• Brain scans confirm unique wiring – MRI imaging shows episodic memory is connected to visual processing areas, while semantic memory aligns with logical and organizational regions.

• Dementia implications – Individuals with episodic memory may be more sensitive to early memory decline, while semantic memory might offer resistance to age-related cognitive changes.

Scientists Discover Your Brain Remembers in Its Own Unique Way

There are scores of studies exploring the roots of dementia; why some folks get it and others don’t, and what lifestyle advice we can glean from this data.

Now here’s a new factor: Some of the latest research reveals that each of us has different memory styles, and these memory styles might impact our memory function as we age.

Let’s take a closer look at the science.

Episodic vs Semantic Memory

Do you know your memory style? It comes down to how you remember details.

For example, your spouse or friend remembers absolutely everything about that lovely café you visited together five years ago. They wax poetic about the crusty French bread, the aromas of garlic wafting from the kitchen, and the taste of the delicious homemade pasta.

You -- on the other hand -- may recall the precise date of your visit, exact address, and maybe even the cost of the meal.

Scientists say that if your memory of an event is richly detailed (i.e., the feel of pasta in your mouth), then you have an “episodic” memory style. But those who mainly recall the facts of the event are said to have a “semantic” memory style.

Different Memory Styles, Different Areas of the Brain

Scientists from Rotman Research Institute at McGill University in Montreal studied people’s memory styles to determine what memory style means in terms of measurable brain activity.¹

Scientists found that these different ways of recalling the past are linked with distinct brain connectivity patterns inherent to the person, suggesting a lifelong memory trait.

The study’s lead author, Dr. Signy Sheldon, explains that we can think of episodic memory as a personality trait.

“People high in this style tend to do mental time travel,” she says. “They can go back to past events and re-experience them in detail.”

She says that for decades, all memory and brain function research treated subjects the same, averaging across individuals.

"Yet as we know from experience and from comparing our recollection to others, people's memory traits vary,” she states. “Our study shows that these memory traits correspond to stable differences in brain function, even when we are not asking people to perform memory tasks while in the scanner."

In the study, 66 healthy young adults (average age 24) filled out an online questionnaire describing their recollection of facts and events from their own lives.

Their responses ranged from those with superior memory to those with severely deficient memory.

After completing the online survey, the participants’ brains were scanned with something called “resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging.” This sophisticated MRI-type scanner maps patterns of brain connectivity.

Researchers focused on the connections between the brain’s medial temporal lobes, which are greatly involved in memory. The participants with episodic (richly detailed) memories had a higher connectivity to regions of the brain involved in visual processes.

Conversely, those with semantic (factual) memories showed a higher medial temporal lobe connectivity to areas of the brain involved in organization and reasoning.

Your Dementia Risk and Your Memory Style

Is one memory style inherently better than the other when it comes to your brain function? Not necessarily, say scientists.

Marc Coutanche, an assistant professor of psychology and a research scientist at the Learning Research and Development Center at the University of Pittsburgh, weighed in on the question.²

He says that although rich in detail, episodic memory is not necessarily superior. For instance, people with semantic memory can recall sports statistics like nobody’s business!

Dr. Brian Levine, a senior scientist at Baycrest’s Rotman Research Institute, discussed the findings in a university press release.³

He notes that with aging and dementia, one of the first things folks notice is how it’s increasingly difficult to recall details of events.

"Yet no one has looked at how this relates to memory traits,” he states. “People who are used to retrieving richly detailed memories may be very sensitive to subtle memory changes as they age, whereas those who rely on a factual approach may prove to be more resistant to such changes.”

Researchers are eager to continue studying in this area. Could certain memory traits be protective, delaying age-related decline? And could a person’s unique memory traits help direct treatment for memory loss in later life?

Your memory style—whether you vividly recall life’s moments (episodic) or focus on facts and data (semantic)—reflects not just how you remember, but how your brain is wired. These distinct styles are linked to specific brain networks and may even influence how your memory holds up as you age. While you can’t change your memory type, you can strengthen your overall brain health. Regular physical exercise boosts blood flow to memory-related areas of the brain, sleep supports memory consolidation, and learning new skills helps build cognitive reserve—your brain’s defense system against aging and decline. So whether you’re a mental time traveler or a detail-focused fact keeper, your lifestyle choices can help keep your memory sharp and resilient.

Summary

Recent research from McGill University and Rotman Research Institute has revealed that memory styles—episodic (detailed) or semantic (factual)—are not just habits but deep-seated brain traits linked to specific neural pathways. Using resting state fMRI scans, scientists found that episodic memory correlates with visual brain regions, while semantic memory connects more to reasoning centers. These memory styles could play a role in how we experience aging and cognitive decline, with episodic thinkers possibly more vulnerable to early changes and semantic thinkers potentially more resilient. As understanding deepens, this knowledge could one day inform personalized approaches to memory care and dementia prevention.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are episodic and semantic memory styles?

Episodic memory involves recalling detailed personal experiences, while semantic memory focuses on general facts and information.

How do memory styles relate to brain function?

They are linked to distinct brain connectivity patterns—episodic with visual regions, semantic with organizational and reasoning centers.

Can memory style affect dementia risk?

Possibly. Those with episodic memory may notice early declines more acutely, while semantic thinkers might be more resistant to change.

Is one memory style better than the other?

Not necessarily. Each has strengths, and both styles serve important cognitive roles.

Can memory style be changed or trained?

Memory style appears to be a stable trait, but research is ongoing to explore whether training could influence or support aging brain health.