Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Memory loss is the inability to recall people, objects, places, orevents that took place in the recent or distant past.
What is going on in the body?
The brain stores different types of information in different places. Short-term memory involves recalling details that have been cataloguedseconds or minutes before.Examples include reciting a phone number, recognizing a new face, or repeatinga list of 3 objects seen 2 or 3 minutes earlier. For this to happen,distinct areas deep in the brain need to function properly.
Long-term memory involves the ability to recall events that tookplacein the distant past. For short-term memory to convert to long-term memory,other permanent changes to brain cells have to take place. This is similar tocreating a permanent file or recording. Other parts of the brain perform thisfiling function.
Occasional memory lapses or forgetfulness are common.These may be associated with depression, stress, lack of sleep, and normal aging. Memory loss only becomes aproblem when it is severe and interferes with daily living.
Amnesia is a severe form of memory loss. It may be apartial or complete lack of recall. Depending on the cause of amnesia, thememory loss may arise suddenly or slowly. It also can be temporary orpermanent.
What are the causes and risks of the symptom?
Common medical causes of memory loss include:
Certain abnormalities of a person’s metabolism orhormones may also be responsible for memory loss. These include:
Symptoms & Signs
What other signs and symptoms are associated with this symptom?
Many people with progressive memory loss may not be aware of their worseningforgetfulness. Their family members or friends may be more able to judge whethertheir memory lapses are getting worse. Depending on whether the memory loss involvesshort-term or long-term memory, the individual or family may notice certainevents, such as:
Diagnosis & Tests
How is the symptom diagnosed?
A person does not need to see a healthcare professional about simple memoryloss that happens only once in a while. If memory loss is severe andprogressive, Alzheimer’s disease must be considered. Dementia can be diagnosedonly if a healthcare provider is made aware of the problem.
The family should be able to discuss the range of the person’s symptoms overtime. Included should be how symptoms progressed and whether the symptomsimproved or deteriorated. Also, the family should report how suddenly orgradually symptoms came on. The healthcare provider should also know allmedications that the individual is taking. This includes over-the-counterproducts, herbal remedies,and allprescription medications.
Combinations of drugs may impair memory at times. The healthcare provider willlook for other medical conditions that may contribute to the symptoms.
To determine if other medical conditions are contributing to the symptoms,tests may be done. Tests may include:
Prevention & Expectations
What can be done to prevent the symptom?
Mild memory loss comes normally with aging. Keeping the brain active may helpto preserve brain cells. Reading, singing, doing puzzles, conversing,exercising, and eating a balanced diet stimulate blood flow and activity in thebrain.
Many cases of memory loss are due to Alzheimer’sdisease. Although there are no proven methods to preventAlzheimer’s disease, recent research findings provide some options that mayslow the onset of the disease or the progression of symptoms. These findings,which need further study, include:
Strokes are another major cause of memory loss. Preventing or treatinghigh blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and alcohol abuse can lower the risk ofstroke.
What are the long-term effects of the symptom?
Occasional memory lapses do not usually disrupt daily life. However, individuals withlong-term, progressive dementia will continue to lose mental abilities.Ultimately, this makes independent living impossible. A person suffering fromthe condition often requires nursing home care. The family may faceconsiderable financial expense in caring for the person. Extensive medical caredue to falls, trauma, infections, and depression may also result.
What are the risks to others?
Memory loss is not contagious and poses no risk to others. If the memory lossis caused by an infection such as AIDS, the infection may becontagious.
Treatment & Monitoring
What are the treatments for the symptom?
There are several steps a person can take to improve his or her memory. Theseinclude:
The 3 medications currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration fortreatment of Alzheimer’s disease are donepezil, tacrine, and rivastigmine.These medications are designed to improve memory by increasing the amount ofacetylcholine in the body.
Other medications, such as risperidone or quetiapine, may also be used to helpbehavioral problems such as hallucinations, delusions, or agitation. Someindividuals with memory loss may also need medications for depression, anxiety, or insomnia.
Other treatments include support and education for those caring for people withmemory loss. Individual and family counseling can be beneficial. It’s also been found that support groupsassist caregivers. As the memory loss progresses, manyfamilies are unable to care for the person at home, and placement in a specialfacility becomes necessary.
What are the side effects of the treatments?
Medications used to treat memory loss can damage the liver, soperiodic liver functiontests areneeded. Other side effects may include nausea, diarrhea, insomnia, vomiting, fatigue, or muscle cramps.
What happens after treatment for the symptom?
In most cases, memory loss is a degenerative condition without acure. Treatment is lifelong. Because the course of memory loss isunpredictable, individuals with the condition should make plans for end-of-lifecare while they are still able to participate in the decision-making process.
Difficult issues that family members may face include:
How is the symptom monitored?
Individuals with memory loss will have periodic visits to thehealthcare provider for evaluation and treatment. Periodic liver function tests may be ordered if the personistaking one of the medications that can cause liver damage. Any new or worseningsymptoms should be reported to the healthcare provider.
Article type: xmedgeneral