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Why do one gets affected with Memory loss

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There are various reasons for one to be affected or suffer Loss of Memory.  

It is the Aging that primarily affects one's Memory and like  in Movies, after a blow to the head, a person roams and wanders without any direction, quite not able to recall who he is or he was or where he was from blah blah.....

While such , all of a sudden or profound loss of memory is rare, memory loss is a problem that affects most people, to a degree, as and when they keep aging. Whether it's an instance of occasional or once in a way forgetfulness or loss of short term memory that intrudes into one's daily life and routine, there exist many reasons for memory loss.


Causes of Memory Loss

Here are some of the more common things that can cause memory loss:


Incorrect Medications - A number of prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can interfere with or cause loss of memory.  Possible culprits include: anti-depressants, anti-histhamines, anti-anxiety medications, muscle relaxants, tranquilizers, sleeping pills and pain relief medications given after surgery.



Alchol, tobacco or Drug Use

Excessive alcohol use has long been recognized as a cause of memory loss.

Smoking harms memory by reducing the amount of oxygen that gets to the brain. Studies have shown that people who smoke find it more difficult to put faces with names than do non-smokers. Illegal drugs can change chemicals in the brain that can make it hard to recall memories.



Sleep deprivation - Both quantity and quality of sleep are important to memory. Getting too little sleep or waking frequently in the night can lead to fatigue which interferes with the ability to consolidate and retrieve information.

Depression & Stress - Being depressed can make it difficult to pay attention and focus, which can affect memory. Stress and anxiety an also get in the way of concentration. When you are tense and your mind is overstimulated or distracted, your ability to remember can suffer.  Stress caused by an emotional trauma can also lead to memory loss.

Nutritional deficiency - Good nutrition -- including high-quality proteins and fats -- is important to proper function of the brain. Deficiencies in vitamin B1 and B12 specifically can also affect memory.

Head injury - A severe hit to the head -- from a fall or automobile accident, for example -- can injure the brain and cause both short- and long-term memory loss. Memory may gradually improve over time.



Stroke- A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is stopped due to the blockage of a blood vessel to the brain or leakage of a vessel into the brain. Strokes often cause short-term memory loss. A person who has had a stroke may have vivid memories of childhood events but be unable to recall what he or she had for lunch.

Transient global amnesia (TGA). This is a brief loss of memory formation.It usually clears up on its own and doesn't cause any harm or happen again. Doctors are not sure why this happens. Occasionally, small strokes will be seen in the hippo-campus (the area of brain associated with memory formation).

Dementia - is the name for progressive loss of memory and other aspects of thinking that are severe enough to interfere with the ability to function in daily activities. Although there are many causes of dementia -- including blood vessel disease, drug or alchol abuse, or other causes of damage to the brain -- the most common and familiar is Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers disease is characterized by a progressive loss of brain cells and other irregularities of the brain.

Other causes. Other possible causes of memory loss include an underactive or overactive thyroid gland. illegal drug use,and infections such as HIV, tuberculosis and syphilis that affect the brain. 

Finding the Cause of Memory Loss

If you find that you are increasingly forgetful or if memory problems interfere with your daily life, schedule an appointment with your doctor to determine the cause and best treatment.

 

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