Memory loss

MEMORY LOSS

Type: Disease

What is memory loss?

Memory loss, also known as amnesia, is unusual forgetfulness. It is a common disorder as people get older, as it is common to forget certain things over time. The person cannot remember recent events in the past.

The memory loss may occur for a short period of time and then resolve. This is known as transient memory loss. However, depending on the cause, the memory loss may not go away and may get worse over time.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms that should be cause for concern are:

• Difficulty performing daily activities
• Difficulty paying attention
• Mental confusion
• Depression
• Headache
• Vision problems
• Difficulty understanding language
• Slowness of movement

Causes of memory loss or why it occurs

A significant memory deficit may be due to other diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease or senile dementia. It may also be the result of other disorders, such as depression or other diseases that cause mental confusion.

Memory loss can be caused by many factors. It may result from an injury to the brain, which is caused by or present after:

• Brain tumor
• Cancer treatments such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy
• Severe brain infections
• Hydrocephalus
• Transient ischemic attack or stroke
• Concussion or head injury

On other occasions, memory loss may be related to mental health problems such as depression, bipolar disorder or after a traumatic or stressful situation.

Other causes of memory loss may include:

• Epilepsy
• Alcohol or other drug use
• Low levels of nutrients or vitamin B1 or B12
• Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis or Huntington’s disease.

What is the treatment?

Although there is no treatment aimed at recovering lost memory, the help of a speech therapist or a speech therapist can be very useful in providing daily exercises aimed at exercising memory. In addition, patients affected by this deficit need a lot of support from their family environment to carry out their daily routines, especially if they must take medication or follow a certain type of diet.