Common Memory Loss Causes You Should Know

Are you having recurring trouble finding your keys every day? Do you always forget a few appointments? Most people, especially the elderly or those in the middle ages, simple acts of forgetfulness are scary. This is partly because they denote the start of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. However, these are not the only things that can cause forgetfulness. Anyone at any age can suffer from memory loss due to a number of things, and here are some of the common memory loss causes you should know.

1. Sleep Apnea

A person suffering from sleep apnea will definitely have trouble breathing at night and might even stop breathing in some occasions. This condition has been linked to dementia and memory loss. You’re likely to be suffering from sleep apnea if you wake with a headache in the morning, suffer from fatigue during the day and often snore loudly when asleep. If sleep apnea is not treated, it might affect spatial navigational memory.

This is the type of memory loss where you forget directions to a specific place or forget where you placed your keys or other minor objects. REM (rapid eye movement) or deep sleep also plays an important role in memory. People suffering from sleep apnea often suffer interruption of oxygen delivery to the brain causing the individual to wake up during the night. The effect of sleep apnea will definitely result in some memory loss issues.

2. Silent Stroke

Strokes usually block the proper functioning of some of the major blood vessels in the brain hampering an individual’s ability to move or think. Silent strokes that affect minor blood vessels are likely to result in memory loss. If the brain is deprived of oxygen or blood, such an individual is likely to suffer from stroke resulting in memory loss. Forgetfulness is actually one of the early signs of someone likely to suffer from a stroke.

3. Medications

Medications are also other common memory cause losses. If you are forgetting important things, you might need to adjust any medication you’re taking. There are a few drugs that have been known as memory loss causes and these include sleeping pills, antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, painkillers, diabetes medications, antihistamines or medications for lowering cholesterol levels in the body.

4. Poor Dieting

B12, one of the most essential Vitamin B, is important for normal functioning of the nerves. Therefore, dietary deficiency of Vitamin B12 will result in dementia or confusion. Every day, you should consume at least 2.5 micrograms of this vitamin from natural sources such as dairy products, fish, meat or cereals.

5. Anxiety, Depression Or Stress

Significant anxiety or stress levels can result in memory loss. People juggling too much from work to home without getting enough sleep are likely to suffer from memory loss. Reducing your stress levels can significantly improve your cognitive abilities. If your stress is not reduced or treated accordingly, you can suffer from depression which might affect your cognitive ability.

6. Others

Besides the five main memory loss causes mentioned above, there are others which include the following. People suffering from infections around the brain area are likely to suffer from memory loss. Some common infections include neurosyphilis, which if left untreated will result in loss of cognitive abilities.

If you have suffered a head injury, mild or severe, you are at risk of suffering memory loss. Depending on the severity of the injury, you’re likely to suffer confusion or trouble with concentration. Therefore, if you suffer from any type of head injury, you should see a doctor immediately to avoid any further issues.

Brain tumors are also other causes of memory loss. A person suffering from a brain tumor is likely to lose the ability to process information or remember things. There have been lots of advancements in the brain tumor treatments. Therefore, you should talk to a neurosurgeon if you notice any brain tumor symptoms.

Lastly, continued abuse of substances such as drugs or alcohol will definitely affect your memory. Heavy drinkers can suffer cognitive decline a few years later which can’t be said for light drinkers. Also, abusing drugs such as cocaine, heroin or meth is likely to cause a decline in your mental abilities resulting in memory loss and other adverse effects.