World Brain Tumour Day: When forgetfulness is a warning sign; expert shares early brain tumor symptoms

Modern life has made forgetfulness feel almost normal. Long workdays, lack of sleep, emotional pressure, and information overload can all affect concentration and memory. Yet the brain has its own way of signalling that something deeper may be happening.

According to Dr Tejasvi Singh Randhawa, Consultant - Neurosurgery, Manipal Hospital Dwarka, New Delhi, memory-related symptoms linked to brain tumors are overlooked because they resemble common issues many people experience every day.

"In today's fast-paced world, occasional forgetfulness is often blamed on stress, lack of sleep, or a hectic schedule. Missing appointments, forgetting names, or struggling to focus can seem like common everyday experiences. However, when memory problems become persistent, worsen over time, or are accompanied by other neurological symptoms, they may signal an underlying medical condition that requires attention."

A brain tumor occurs when abnormal cells grow within the brain. Depending on where the growth develops, it can interfere with essential functions such as memory, speech, judgement, behaviour, and attention.

The challenge is that these symptoms arrive quietly. There may be no dramatic warning sign. Instead, the changes can be so gradual that family members notice them before the individual does.

One of the most misunderstood aspects of brain tumors is their ability to affect thinking before causing physical symptoms.

Dr Randhawa explained, "Tumors affecting areas responsible for memory, concentration, language, or decision-making may lead to cognitive changes that are often mistaken for stress, aging, or mental fatigue."

These changes can appear in surprisingly ordinary situations.

Someone who once handled multiple responsibilities effortlessly may suddenly struggle to organize daily tasks. A person known for sharp recall may repeatedly forget recent conversations. Others may find themselves reading the same paragraph several times because information no longer registers as easily.

Research from the US government's National Cancer Institute notes that cognitive and behavioural changes can occur when tumors affect areas of the brain involved in memory, thinking, and personality. The institute highlights that symptoms vary significantly depending on tumor location and size.

What makes these changes concerning is their persistence. Unlike stress-related forgetfulness, which often improves with rest and recovery, tumor-related cognitive symptoms tend to progress gradually.

Brain tumors do not always announce themselves with severe headaches or dramatic neurological events. In many cases, the earliest clues are behavioural or cognitive.
We also spoke to Dr Sumit Goyal, Director & HOD of Neurosurgery and Group Director of Neurointervention, Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital, Omega 1, Greater Noida, who explained, "Most people associate brain tumors with severe headaches, but symptoms such as increasing forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, changes in behavior, speech problems, or unexplained seizures can also be important warning signs. These symptoms are often mistaken for stress, fatigue, or ageing, leading to delays in diagnosis. On World Brain Tumor Day, it is important to raise awareness that persistent neurological symptoms should never be ignored."
Dr Randhawa identifies several warning signs that deserve attention:

People may lose track of discussions midway or repeatedly ask the same questions despite having received answers moments earlier.

A person knows exactly what they want to say but cannot retrieve common words during conversation. This can be frustrating and embarrassing, leading some individuals to withdraw socially.

Family members may notice that someone becomes unusually irritable, emotionally distant, impulsive, or withdrawn without an obvious reason.

Tasks that once felt routine, planning a trip, managing finances, multitasking, or making decisions, suddenly become overwhelming.

"Headaches that become more frequent, severe, or occur predominantly in the morning may warrant medical attention," said Dr Randhawa.

Even a single unexplained seizure should never be ignored and requires immediate medical evaluation.

Blurred vision, double vision, or unexplained vision loss can occur if the tumor affects pathways involved in visual processing.

The human brain is often described as the body's command centre, but different regions control different abilities. This is why two people with brain tumors can experience entirely different symptoms.

Dr Randhawa explained, "Symptoms often depend on where the tumor develops. A lesion in the frontal lobe may affect judgement and behaviour while one in the temporal lobe interferes with memory and language processing. Tumors affecting the parietal region alter sensory perception whereas occipital lobe involvement leads to visual disturbances."

The frontal lobe helps regulate personality, planning, and decision-making. Changes here may appear as unusual behaviour or poor judgement.

The temporal lobe plays a critical role in language and memory. Tumors in this area can lead to forgotten conversations, difficulty recalling information, or trouble understanding speech.

The parietal lobe processes sensory information, while the occipital lobe is responsible for vision. Disturbances in these areas can create symptoms that seem unrelated at first glance.

"The reason why brain tumors remain undetected for months is because the symptoms resemble stress, burnout, migraine or even age related cognitive decline," Dr Randhawa noted.

This overlap often delays diagnosis, especially among working adults who assume their symptoms are simply part of a demanding lifestyle.

A brain tumor diagnosis can feel frightening, but advances in treatment have transformed the outlook for many patients.

"Treatment depends on the type, size, and location of the tumor. Advances in neurosurgery like minimally invasive, image-guided neuronavigation techniques, neuromonitoring and awake brain surgery have improved precision and safety," said Dr Randhawa.

Today's treatment plans may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of approaches tailored to the patient's specific condition.

The greatest advantage often comes from recognizing symptoms early.

"Recognizing symptoms early and seeking prompt medical attention can make a significant difference in treatment outcomes and quality of life."

Perhaps the most important message is this: not every forgotten name or misplaced phone is a cause for concern. But when cognitive changes become persistent, progressive, or accompanied by other neurological symptoms, they deserve attention rather than explanation.

The brain rarely shouts at first. More often, it whispers through subtle changes in memory, thinking, behaviour, and perception. Listening to those whispers may make all the difference.

This article includes expert inputs shared with TOI Health by:

Dr Tejasvi Singh Randhawa, Consultant - Neurosurgery, Manipal Hospital Dwarka, New Delhi. Dr Sumit Goyal, Director & HOD of Neurosurgery and Group Director of Neurointervention, Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital, Omega 1, Greater Noida.

Inputs were used to highlight how persistent forgetfulness and subtle cognitive changes may sometimes signal an underlying brain tumor, why these symptoms are often mistaken for stress or mental fatigue, and when it is important to seek medical evaluation for early diagnosis and treatment.