MEMORY LOSS

It is easy to forget a name, an appointment, or the location of an item. This type of forgetfulness happens in normal persons. Common causes of this kind of memory loss include:

loss of concentration
stress
lack of sleep
low blood sugar
alcohol or drug use
side effects of medications and
an under-active thyroid gland

A sudden memory loss or forgetting of past events is called acute memory loss. This can be more serious and may be caused by:

brain injury
infection such as meningitis
long lasting or repeating illness
a change in blood flow to the brain or
epilepsy

Memory may or may not return to normal after these conditions are corrected.

A slow and longer lasting change in memory is called dementia. Dementia is mental decline to the degree that it affects the ability to carry out activities of daily living. Dementia involves the loss of ability to think, reason, and remember. It can be permanent. Causes for this are:

diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and AIDS
stroke or diabetes-related nerve damage and
mental illness such as depression

Some simple activities may help to improve memory. First of all, try sticking to a routine. Do all your daily activities the same way each day. Keep the mind active by reading, working games, crossword puzzles, or similar activities. This can improve concentration. Associate something you want to remember with a song or landmark. Writing down important tasks or appointments will help you remember. Try not to worry about memory loss because that can make it worse. If you are concerned about increasing memory loss or sudden memory loss, see your provider for a thorough medical evaluation.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File SYMP3221.rf2 VRS# 6739 Data Version 7.0