ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka Episode 356: The Science of Memory and ADHD with Dr. Daniella Karidi
Oct 29, 2025
Dr. Daniella Karidi, a research scholar and ADHD coach diagnosed in her fifties, shares her unique insights into memory's quirks in ADHD brains. She dives into the concept of prospective memory and why traditional time-based cues often fail. By outlining five critical memory breakdowns, she emphasizes the need for multiple, event-based reminders. Daniella highlights how intentional memory encoding and external supports, like tech tools, can enhance task completion. With humor and practical strategies, she redefines memory challenges as opportunities for innovation!
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Prospective Memory Is The Core Problem
- Prospective memory (remembering to remember) is distinct from retrospective memory and is often the bigger issue for ADHD brains.
- Time-based cues are especially weak for ADHDers while event-based cues work much better.
Use The Five-Stage Memory Check
- Break future tasks into five stages: attend/encode, retain, cue, execute, and close the loop.
- Diagnose which stage fails for you, then apply a targeted strategy (checklist, alarms, verbalization).
Encoding Differences Between Brains
- Non-ADHD people often actively encode memories into organized 'places' in the brain.
- ADHD brains tend to store items without intentional categorization, increasing retrieval failures.
