Ways to Improve Your Memory

Top Doctor: Do This To Reverse Memory Loss

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Memory loss is unusual forgetfulness. You may not be able to remember new events, recall one or more memories of the past, or both.

The memory loss may be for a short time and then resolve (transient). Or, it may not go away, and, depending on the cause, it can get worse over time.

Alternative Names: Forgetfulness; Amnesia; Impaired memory; Loss of memory; Amnestic syndrome; Dementia – memory loss; Mild cognitive impairment – memory loss

Causes

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

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 and stress. Being depressed can make it difficult to pay attention and focus, which can affect memory. Stress and anxiety can 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 brain function. Deficiencies in vitamin B1 and B12 specifically can affect memory.

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 they 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 hippocampus (the area of brain associated with memory formation).

Dementia. 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, or other causes of damage to the brain — the most common and familiar is Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by a progressive loss of brain cells and other irregularities of the brain.