All of us have had the experience of forgetting something at some point in our lives. Such episodes of memory loss are frustrating and sometimes a reason to worry. When they happen more frequently, they can set off fears of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease looming large. No matter its forgetfulness that happens occasionally or loss of short-term memory that interferes with our day-to-day tasks, there are many causes of memory loss and treatable ones at that, which this blog aims to shine light on.

The problem of memory loss affects more or less everyone, to some degree. There’s no running away from it. The causes are not just limited to Alzheimer’s disease or another related dementia since there are other, temporary factors that can also lead to memory loss.

Some degree of memory problems as well as a decline in other thinking skills happens naturally with increasing age. However, there’s a difference between normal forgetfulness and memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. If memory problems has started to take its toll on daily life, it’s time to get yourself evaluated for early diagnosis (if you have developed dementia) and appropriate care. Also, prompt diagnosis of a reversible cause of memory loss will enable you to get appropriate treatment.

Some causes of reversible memory loss include the following:

1.      Certain medications (or a combination of medications)

2.      Emotional disorders (anxiety, stress, depression)

3.      Alcoholism

4.      Minor head trauma or injury

5.      Deficiency of Vitamin B-12 (that helps to keep nerve cells and red blood cells healthy)

6.      Hypothyroidism

7.      Brain diseases (a tumor or infection in the brain)

Here are some of the many reasons we forget things:

Emotional causes- stress, depression, anxiety, grief

Drugs and medical treatments- alcohol or illicit drugs, prescription medications, chemotherapy, heart surgery, anesthesia.

Physical and medical conditions- fatigue and sleep deprivation, concussions and head injuries, thyroid problems, low vitamin B12, thyroid problems, kidney disorders, liver disorders, encephalitis (acute infection of brain), pregnancy, menopause, infections (pneumonia or urinary tract infections can lead to forgetfulness), strokes, brain tumors, transient ischemic attacks,  sleep apnea, aging.

Cognitive causes- Sometimes, problems arise with how the brain functions with increasing age, which may lead to memory loss. Cognitive causes of dementia include distraction, natural memory ability (often an issue with individuals that naturally don’t have a great memory), and Mild Cognitive Impairment (a decline in the mental abilities that develop slowly and steadily, and MCI is characterized by issues with memory, language, thinking or judgment).

Alzheimer’s or another related dementia- Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia that causes memory loss, and affects reasoning, judgment, and the ability to learn, communicate, and carry out simple daily tasks. Alzheimer’s disease is more common among individuals over 65, but can also occur in younger adults (40 years). Other kinds of dementia that can lead to memory loss include vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and several others.