Most people associate memory loss and short-term memory issues with middle age or old age. However, memory decline and forgetfulness can occur at any age, even among the young and children.
The experience of forgetting things, like personal items or important tasks during the day, is common and increasingly widespread. It’s no longer just a symptom of aging. Many of these types of forgetfulness are not serious. Sleep deprivation, certain medications, and even stress can temporarily affect memory. Fortunately, the brain is flexible and adaptable, and many of these issues can be reversed with simple but powerful interventions.
Manifestations of Temporary Memory Loss Signs
- Memory lapses over names and faces
- Forgetting past conversations
- Changes in mood and irritability
- Loss of orientation in the middle of a task or getting stuck
- General confusion or mental fogginess that blocks attention or recall
- Reading printed words without recollection of their meaning
- Inability to remember phone numbers
How Symptoms of Memory Loss Manifest
- From time to time: They seldom ever happen.
- Every now and then: May cluster during a certain week or month.
- Sometimes mild and sometimes moderate: Occurs in flashes quite frequently, but with symptoms that remain mild to moderate.
- On a very frequent basis: A very severe impact with day-to-day function.
Causes of Temporary Memory Loss
1. Infection
Even a common cold or urinary tract infection may temporarily impair function and memory within the brain.
2. Hormonal Changes
Hypothyroidism may have an adverse effect on mental alertness, energy, and mood in an individual, leading to memory problems.
3. Physical Trauma
Memory may be temporarily disturbed by mild or moderate brain injury. Emotional trauma also may disrupt memory either for the short or long term.
4. Thyroid Disorders
While the thyroid is not a part of the brain, its disorder will involve almost all metabolic pathways in the body. Memory problems may cause concern; a simple test for thyroid-involvement underactivity or overactivity might clear this up.
5.Lack of Hot Flashes (Menopause)
Hot flashes may accompany depression, lack of energy, and mood swings in middle life that negatively affect memory. Fortunately, this is temporary and does not damage the brain.
6. Sleep Deprivation
Fatigue, lack of focus, and poor memory are common complaints among individuals suffering from sleep deprivation. While 8 hours are recommended, some people need more. You might require extra rest if you find yourself waking up tired or dozing off during the day.
7. Prescription Medications
Prescription drugs that act primarily contrary to memory include Xanax, Valium, corticosteroids, antidepressants, heart medications like statins and beta-blockers, opioids, and antihistamines like Benadryl. Consult your doctor if you suspect that memory issues are due to medications.
8. Anxiety and Depression
Such conditions are known to affect the circuits of the brain involved in memory formation and/or retrieval. Chronic stress, by elevating secretion levels of cortisol, does great damage to the synapses in the brain and to memory. Fortunately, the loss of memory linked with mood disorders is usually reversible with the right therapy.
9. Dehydration
Dehydration is one of the most important but most unrecognized causes of memory loss. It is very important for the brain health to stay hydrated.
10. Vitamin B12 deficiency
B12 deficiency is a likelihood for most vegetables because they are primarily available in animal products. A deficiency of B12 results in memory problems, fatigue, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Blood tests and supplements may become necessary, especially for pregnant women, the elderly, anemic individuals, and those with digestive conditions such as celiac disease or Crohn’s disease.
11. A High-Fat Diet
Unhealthy diets not only ruin the heart but also damage the brain. Fat and sugar-rich processed foods are the raw foods directly contributing to long-term memory decline. In fact, researchers, who cite Alzheimer’s disease as Type 3 Diabetes, say that it is closely tracked with poor diet. Diets with healthy fats, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and fish that protect the brain are best for one’s Mediterranean diet.
12. Smoking
Smoking cuts off blood supply to the brain, and memory and cognitive performance become disrupted due to this. Smokers find their brains aging early and owing to the accumulating abnormal proteins associated with it process information poorly.
Viruses And Microbes Anti-bodies
Surrounding with viruses like Hemery Simplex 1 (cold shank) memory deficits related to it. The vaccination done during childhood and moderate pace exercise usually make the person safe from infections.
Silent Stroke
A small blockage in the blood vessels of the brain is known as silent strokes and may contribute to mild cognitive impairments and even vascular dementia through memory problems. Further, the decline in memory increases the chances of future strokes.Entry.
Medications That Could Produce Symptoms Resembling Dementia
- Allergy medications: Carbinoxamine, Chlorpheniramine, Clemastine, Diphenhydramine, Hydroxyzine, Promethazine, Cyproheptadine
- Pain Relievers: Clozapine, Olanzapine, Perphenazine, Quetiapine, Thioridazine, Trifluoperazine, Loxapine, Molindone, Pimozide.
- Incontinence Medications: Darifenacin, Flavoxate, Oxybutynin, Tolterodine.
- Anti-nausea Drugs: Dimenhydrinate, Diphenhydramine, Meclizine, Promethazine, Scopolamine.
- Muscle Relaxants: Cyclobenzaprine, Dicyclomine, Orphenadrine.
- Strong Painkillers: Meperidine.
- Parkinson’s Medications: Benztropine, Procyclidine, Trihexyphenidyl, Amantadine.
- Seizure Medications: Carbamazepine, Oxcarbazepine
