Memory loss: causes, ways to overcome, and prevent

Memory loss is often associated with head injuries from blunt force blows or car accidents. In fact, the causes of memory loss can vary and you may never have thought before, including due to certain medical conditions or diseases. So, what are the causes? How to treat and prevent this condition?

What is memory loss?

Everyone often experiences memory lapses or easily forgets something. In this situation, you may not be able to locate the items you have stored or simply forget the names of people you just met.

Usually, this is a natural thing for everyone. The reason is, the human brain is continuously sorting, storing, and retrieving all kinds of information, so that memory lapses may occur. As for this, it is often associated with the elderly (elderly) due to aging factors.

However, if you keep forgetting in an unusual way, this could be a sign that you are experiencing memory loss. Memory loss is a condition where a person's memory is disrupted to remember facts and memories of the past as well as events or new memories.

This condition can occur suddenly for a short time or temporarily and can be resolved. However, memory loss can also be continuous, gradual, and get worse over time, depending on the cause. In severe conditions, this memory disorder can interfere with your daily life.

Various causes of memory loss

Although aging is often the cause of memory problems, especially forgetfulness. However, aging is not a dramatic cause of memory loss. This condition can happen to anyone for various reasons, including certain diseases or medical conditions. Here are some causes of memory loss that you can be aware of:

• Take certain drugs

Several types of drugs, both prescription and without a doctor's prescription, can have side effects from cognitive problems to memory loss, especially if taken for a long time and exceed the recommended dosage. These types of drugs include antidepressants, antihistamines, muscle relaxants, sedatives, sleeping pills, pain relievers, drugs for blood pressure, arthritis medications, and anticholinergic drugs for urinary incontinence.

• Alcohol and drugs

Consuming alcoholic beverages in excess can cause a person to be deficient in vitamin B1 (thiamine) which can damage memory. In addition, alcohol and illegal drugs (drugs) can also change chemicals in the brain and affect memory. This condition can cause short-term memory loss and can continue to interfere with memory afterward, increasing the risk of dementia.

• Lack of sleep

Both the quantity and quality of sleep are very important for a person's memory. Lack of sleep or frequent waking at night can cause fatigue, which interferes with the brain's ability to remember and process information.

• Depression and stress

Emotional disturbances, including stress, anxiety, and depression, can cause forgetfulness, confusion, and difficulty focusing and concentrating, which can affect their memory. The reason is, stress and anxiety can cause excess production of stress hormones (cortisol) which can interfere with the brain's ability to remember.

• Head injury or trauma

The cause of this one memory loss may not be doubted. A hard blow to the head from a hit, fall, or accident can injure the brain and cause short-term and long-term memory loss. These memories can come back gradually over time, but can be sustained if the injury or trauma occurs repeatedly.

• Nutritional deficiencies

Lack of vitamins B1 and B12 can affect memory and can be a cause of memory loss. The reason is, vitamins B1 and B12 function to protect nerve cells (neurons) which are very important for healthy brain function. Therefore, a deficiency in this vitamin runs the risk of causing permanent damage to the brain and creating memory problems.

• Thyroid gland disorders

The thyroid gland controls the body's metabolism. If your metabolism is too fast, you may feel confused, but if it's too slow, you can feel sluggish and depressed. This can happen because of a problem with your thyroid gland, whether it's an underactive or overactive thyroid. As for problems with the thyroid, this can cause memory problems to memory loss.

• Dementia and Alzheimer's disease

Dementia is memory loss that is progressive and severe enough to interfere with the ability to remember and think in daily activities. This is the most serious form of memory loss. Although there are many causes of dementia, the most common is Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative brain disease, in which brain cells are progressively lost along with other brain disorders.

• Another brain disease

Apart from dementia and Alzheimer's disease, several other brain disorders or diseases can also damage brain function and cause a person to have memory problems that lead to memory loss. Memory loss due to this brain disorder can be short term and can be treated, but in some cases, memory loss can recur and occur in the long term.

Some of these brain diseases include stroke, brain tumors, seizure disorders or epilepsy, brain infections (encephalitis, meningitis), Parkinson's disease, and other conditions.

• Viral infection

Memory problems and memory loss can also occur in someone with certain diseases caused by viral infections, such as HIV, tuberculosis, syphilis, herpes, and other infections that affect the lining or substance of the brain.

How to deal with memory loss?

Coping with memory loss can vary from person to person, depending on the conditions that caused it. For example, in someone who has lost memory as a result of taking certain drugs, the doctor may change or adjust the dosage of the drug to reduce the memory problem.

Meanwhile, memory loss in someone who is stressed, excessively anxious, and depressed can be improved by overcoming these emotional disorders. Overcoming depression and anxiety disorders can be done with medication or psychotherapy for more severe cases.

If you lose your memory due to a bad lifestyle, such as lack of sleep and consuming excessive alcohol or drugs, this condition can improve by improving your lifestyle. Consult with your doctor to get the best way to deal with it.

In addition, as with depression, overcoming memory loss due to certain conditions or diseases can be overcome by treating the disease, except for disorders that cannot be completely cured. For example, in stroke survivors, memory loss can improve through rehabilitation or therapy designed to improve thinking and memory.

As for people with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, reported by the Alzheimer's Association, there are no drugs that can cure this condition, so memory problems are likely to continue. However, medication from a doctor can help reduce memory loss for a limited time and maintain the ability to think.

Make sure to always tell your doctor about any medical conditions, medications, and other things you are experiencing, in order to get the right treatment for memory loss according to your condition.

How to prevent memory loss?

Memory loss can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle and other things that may reduce the risk of this occurrence. Here are some ways to prevent memory problems, including memory loss, that you can do:

• Stop smoking and do not consume excessive alcohol and illegal drugs.
• Get enough sleep. In adults, sleep at least 6 hours a night every day.
• Manage stress, such as doing relaxation, fun hobbies, or socializing with colleagues or relatives.
• Get regular exercise, which can reduce the risk of developing dementia.
• Get used to adopting a healthy diet, such as eating lots of green leafy vegetables, reducing foods that contain saturated fats, and increasing the consumption of fish with omega-3 fatty acids which are beneficial for brain health, such as salmon and tuna.
• Take the drugs according to the rules and the dosage recommended by the doctor and do not take any drugs.
• Keep the brain active, such as reading, writing, learning new skills, playing games,or gardening. This can stimulate brain cells and cell-to-cell connections which may reduce the risk of dementia.