Understanding Memory Loss

Everyone forgets things once in a while. How many times have you forgotten the name of a recent acquaintance, or put your car keys in a place where you were sure you would remember them, then forgotten where you set them down? These slight lapses in memory are common and are simply part of the brain's continuous striving to sort, file, and prioritize the constant bombardment of information it receives.

Forgetfulness is a normal part of the aging process, and in general it is nothing to worry about. You may joke about having a "senior moment" every now and then, and it may take a bit longer to remember what you were looking for in the other room or the name of your neighbor's grandson.

However, when memory lapses begin to interfere with daily life, there is greater cause for concern. Unlike minor lapses in memory, forgetting things like the name of a lifelong friend or close relative, repeating the same question during the same conversation, or getting lost and confused in a familiar place can be a red flag signaling something more serious.

For many people, the realization that they are beginning to suffer from memory loss conjures up the unwelcome and ominous thought of impending Alzheimer's disease. The good news is that many cases of memory loss are not due to Alzheimer's disease, and not all age-related memory loss becomes as severe as senile dementia.

Often, what appears to be significant loss of memory is actually treatable, even reversible, and brain cell growth and learning can take place at any age. Believe it or not, maintaining healthy brain function into the later years is in large part under your own control.

Remembering is not one unique cognitive process, and memory is not confined to one certain area of the brain. For this reason, there are any number of causes of memory loss, and there are many ways to prevent, reverse, and compensate for poor recall ability.

First, though, we should look at the way the brain forms and retrieves memories. There are three unique stages to forming, storing and retrieving memories:

- Acquisition is the process of taking in new information along the nerve pathways of the brain and the neurons. During this stage, only the information you intentionally focus on takes up residence in your brain.

- Consolidation is the process of encoding new information your brain has received and storing it in long-term memory.

- Retrieval consists of recalling information along the same nerve pathways that were used to store it. The more often you use a memory, the easier it is to retrieve, provided the associated neurons remain healthy.

With the understanding that different nerve pathways and different locations of the brain are involved with the processing and storage of memory, it stands to reason that there are many different factors which can precipitate memory loss. The following list describes some of the many issues which are  causes of memory loss:

• Medications. Single or multiple medications, particularly in older adults, can mimic symptoms of dementia. Even some herbal remedies and topical analgesics for arthritis can cause memory lapses when the liver fails to eliminate the chemicals quickly enough.
•  Chronic use of alcohol and drugs causes a deficiency of vitamin B1, which results in memory lapses.
•  Environmental toxins such as lead, mercury, carbon monoxide, and chemicals in hobby items and pesticides can lead to confusion and a reduced ability to concentrate. 
•  Hormone changes during menopause/perimenopause can cause temporary disconnects in the ability to recall information. 
•  Stress, depression and anxiety may actually lead to loss of neurons in the parts of the brain that are affected, leading to an inability to focus and memory loss.
•  Head injuries such as concussion can cause a temporary lapse of memory.
•  Infections, particularly those which affect the lining of the brain, can lead to memory loss.
• Impaired thyroid function leads to hormonal imbalances which can affect memory.
•  Sleep deprivation from any cause can affect proper memory function.
•  Nutritional deficiencies such as lack of vitamins B1 and B12 can also have an effect on memory.
•  Natural aging, after all, does cause some brain function to slow down. This slowing of cognitive ability is sometimes misinterpreted as memory loss.
•  Stroke, or "vascular accident," is a significant cause of memory loss.
  
  

Now for the more serious age-related memory loss causes:

* Mild Cognitive Impairment, or MCI for short. When memory loss moves beyond a few lapses into something more significant, like forgetting a weekly social event or blanking out on where you were going when you left the house, MCI may be the culprit. While frightening, and often seen as a precursor to dementia or Alzheimer's, many patients with MCI never progress to those later stages. While MCI can disrupt some day-to-day functions, many of those with mild cognitive impairment manage to live independently.

* Alzheimer's Disease, AD, is the most common type of senile dementia. It is progressive and degenerative, caused by protein deposits in the brain known as amyloid plaques and tangled nerve fibers. AD has a genetic component, and it may also be linked to a history of severe concussion. It slowly destroys a person's ability to communicate, make judgments, and engage in social activities. AD may cause significant changes in personality, and eventually loss of speech, incapacitation, and death.

* Other types of dementia - there are a number of other types of dementia, with varying causes but similar results. In most cases, the patient's ability to function deteriorates, leading to inappropriate social behavior, loss of independence, emotional disturbance, loss of language skills, and eventually incapacitation and death. These forms of dementia include vascular dementia (caused by blockages in the arteries), Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease.

Fortunately, many types of memory loss can be prevented or reversed. With an eye to your long-term health and quality of life, there are several preemptive steps you can take to improve and enhance your memory.

Methods to Improve Memory

* Detox
A body detoxification program can be employed to eliminate heavy metals such as lead and mercury, as well as other environmental toxins. A liver detox is especially helpful in removing any harmful chemicals resulting from alcohol use or chemicals from medications that have remained in the body due to poor liver function.

* Memory exercises such as crossword puzzles, reading, games, and even gardening are an excellent way to keep the neural pathways open and the memory sharp.

* Memory supplements can help to compensate for the loss of vital nutrients from poor diet, alcohol and drug use, improper thyroid function, and menopause or perimenopause. Many supplements have also been shown to reduce the affects of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.

Some effective memory supplements include:

- Gingko biloba;
- Ginseng;
- Omega-3 fatty acids (found in fish oils);
- Huperzine A (Chinese club moss);
- Acetyl-L-carnitine (an amino acid);
- Vinpocetine, an alkaloid extract of the periwinkle plant which acts like dopamine;
- Vitamin E;
- Phosphatyl choline, a phospholipid found in egg yolks and soybeans;
- Piracetam, a synthesized nootropic drug which enhances cognitive ability.

* Physical exercise improves blood flow to the brain and may reduce the risk of memory loss. It also reduces stress and enhances the body's own abilities to regenerate itself.

* Consuming an organic diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins allows you to eat nutrient-rich fresh foods while avoiding harmful toxins such as pesticides and chemical fertilizers which can impair memory function.

* Practicing stress management is tremendously helpful in staving off memory loss. By keeping down your stress levels, you can avoid the stress- and anxiety-induced hormones that promote memory loss.

* Maintaining social interactions is an important part of maintaining a healthy mind. While loneliness has been shown to be a factor in Alzheimer's disease, keeping healthy social interactions can reduce stress levels and promote cognition and memory.

By adapting a healthy and active lifestyle now, you are giving yourself every chance at a long, healthy, independent and fulfilling life.