Difficulty with attention to day-to-day activities
Trouble concentrating means difficulty maintaining attention to tasks, conversations or activities. It may affect work, reading, conversations or decision-making.
It can occur temporarily due to stress or fatigue, but persistent difficulty concentrating may be a sign of cognitive decline or dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Trouble concentrating may be associated with:
- attention disorders
- dementias (including Alzheimer’s disease)
- depression
- fatigue or burnout
- medication side effects
- mild cognitive impairment
- poor sleep and sleep disorders
- stress or anxiety
- other neurological conditions
People having trouble concentrating may feel ‘my mind keeps wandering’ and that they:
- have difficulty finishing tasks
- lose track of conversations
- mentally slower than usual
- need to re-read information repeatedly.
When to seek help
You should seek medical assessment if difficulty concentrating:
- affects work or daily functioning
- impacts memory or decision-making
- is persistent or worsening
- occurs alongside memory loss or confusion.
Common patient questions
Mild changes in attention can occur with ageing, but persistent or worsening concentration problems are not considered normal.
Yes, anxiety is one of the most common causes of reduced attention and mental focus.
It can be, especially when combined with memory loss, confusion or changes in daily functioning.