What are the common causes of memory problems?

 

Memory changes with age

As people age, they undergo many changes, especially within the body. Noticeable changes, such as wrinkles or greys, and then the less apparent changes happening in our brains. After a certain age, our cognitive abilities are on the decline, where you’ll likely start to experience slight slips in your memory, which don’t significantly interfere with your day-to-day life in your middle age and beyond. You might notice that there are things you are thinking of, but you can’t quite recall. 

Common memory changes as you get older:

• Slower recall
• Mild forgetfulness 
• Difficulty with new technology
• Trouble with multitasking and changing tasks 
• Forgetting names of acquaintances
• Struggling to find the right word
• Difficulty with new information 

How can I tell if this is normal memory loss or something more serious?

There are some key indicators between normal memory loss and something more serious such as dementia. These are the more serious symptoms: 

• Struggling with everyday tasks
• Forgetting recent events 
• Difficulty with language
• Changes in mood or motivation 
• Difficulty learning new information

Medical conditions that can affect memory

While aging can contribute to memory loss, certain medical conditions can lead to more serious memory problems. Although many severe memory problems result from dementia, other medical conditions can affect memory too. 

Memory loss causes: 

Alzheimer's and dementia: Alzheimer's is a form of dementia. It’s a condition in which people experience a progressive decline in memory, thinking, and behaviour. Alzheimer's usually begins with minor memory problems, such as forgetting recent conversations and the names of places and people. Over time, memory problems become more severe, resulting in symptoms such as confusion, difficulty planning, and personality changes. 
Neurological conditions affecting memory

Parkinson’s disease: caused by a deficit of the neurotransmitter dopamine from abnormal cell death. It’s a progressive neurological condition, meaning that, over time, problems in the brain get worse and make it difficult for people to carry out their day-to-day. Brain changes and altered dopamine levels may lead to cognitive changes such as memory loss. 

Epilepsy: For memory to function correctly, your brain needs to monitor itself continuously. An epileptic seizure interferes with the self-monitoring process before, during, and after a seizure. While experiencing a seizure, there are periods of loss of consciousness and confusion, which stops memory from recording and storing memories correctly.

Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs) are brief episodes in which parts of the brain don’t receive enough blood. While TIAS don’t usually cause long-term memory loss, they cause short-term memory loss and confusion. People will have vivid memories from the past but struggle to remember events during the day of the episode.

Conditions similar to dementia:

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI): a condition where people experience a slight decline in mental abilities such as memory and thinking skills. These problems are not severe enough to disrupt the carrying out of day to day tasks. People with MCI will have issues with memory or learning, remembering recent events or processing new information. Typically, you’ll experience a decline in attention span, finding it more difficult to focus on a task. Having a conversation may become more challenging, as it may take you longer than usual to find the right words to use. 

Functional cognitive impairment (FCI): occurs when there are problems with memory, concentration or cognitive abilities, without any physical damage to the brain. These are usually caused by psychological effects such as stress and anxiety. At the beginning of FCI, symptoms are usually mild, gradually becoming more deep-rooted, making it more difficult for people to carry out day-to-day tasks. As these symptoms become more severe, FCI can start to look and feel like the early stages of dementia. 

Chronic illnesses and their impact on memory:

Diabetes

It's common for people with chronic diseases to experience poor cognitive functioning. According to the National Health Library of Medicine, diabetic conditions and cognitive decline, particularly hypertension-related structural and functional changes in the brain. People with type 1 diabetes tend to experience episodes of low blood sugar, which can lead to sudden short-term memory loss and confusion. You’ll need to treat it quickly to stop it from getting worse, and for your memory levels to return to normal. 

Heart disease

Heart problems not only affect blood flow and physical health, they also cause problems with thinking, memory and cognitive abilities. According to American Heart Association, when the heart doesn’t pump enough blood or beats irregularly, the brain doesn’t receive the oxygen it needs to function properly. Over time, this can cause brain damage, leading to issues like memory loss, confusion, and even dementia. 

Causes of memory problems – lifestyle factors

Stress and anxiety

Being in a state of near-constant stress and hypervigilance can, over time, impair memory retrieval. Deep-rooted or key events are generally not affected, but more so by working memory, such as having difficulty with task instructions, having conversations with others, or remembering information that you have just read or studied. Cortisol, known as the stress hormone, has key functions. Having the correct amount of cortisol helps you form memories, while having too much cortisol can have contrasting effects. Stress and anxiety can have lasting effects on brain structure and function.

Lack of sleep 

While many people have lack of sleep every now and then, if you aren’t regularly getting enough sleep, it can affect your physical and mental health, causing issues such as poor brain function and mood disorders. According to Healthline, sleep itself helps strengthen memories by stabilising and allowing you to recall them later. When you are sleep deprived, your brain doesn’t work as well, and it is harder to create and keep new memories.

Medication and substances

Indeed, many medications and substances are used to benefit us, aiding us with our daily lives. However, some can have side effects, such as memory loss. Some prescription medications can reduce activity in parts of the brain, including messenger pathways that link events from short-term to long-term memory. It’s the medications that interfere with neurotransmitters that can damage long-term memory. 

Depression and memory loss 

Researchers in one 2013 study discovered that people with depression couldn’t identify objects on a screen that were identical or similar to an object they had seen previously. According to researchers, this suggests that memory can be diminished as a result of depression. People with depression generally have lower executive function and memory, because of a deficiency in some neurotransmitters such as dopamine which affect memory process. 

Coping strategies and tips to help with memory loss

Experiencing memory loss can be a scary and anxiety-inducing time, but rest assured, you can manage memory loss in various ways so you can continue living a meaningful life. 

• Stay calm – although easier than done, it's best to stay calm rather than stressing and panicking as this can trigger memory problems.
• Talk about it – consider regular counselling or joining a support group to help elevate your mood, and it can help with memory. Talking with family or friends as they might have helpful suggestions.
• Exercise – take part in exercise activities that keep your body active and engaged.
• Use reminders – you could use alarm clocks to keep track of time or colour code household items.
• Make a routine – this will make it easier for you to know what will happen throughout the day. Include some variety and stimulation so you can still live a purposeful life. 
• Take photos.

How do I know when to seek medical advice? 

While occasional memory lapses are normal, certain memory-loss symptoms shouldn’t be ignored and require a check-up with the doctor. Knowing when to seek medical advice for memory loss can significantly help with treatment and early diagnosis. Serious memory problems are more than just forgetfulness. 

Recognising serious memory problems

• Getting lost 
• Forgetting people
• Asking the same questions 
• Disorientation in familiar settings
• Self-care decline 

Support options if you are experiencing memory problems

Speak with your GP.

If you are living with dementia, there is support from specialist services such as Alzheimer’s society.

We support people living with dementia, see how we help people continue to live a meaningful and purposeful life.