Everybody forgets things at times. It’s normal to misplace items and forget some details. However, as people age, forgetfulness might become more frequent, causing minor daily life problems. Let’s learn what causes memory loss and how to avoid it.
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Learn What Causes Memory Loss and How to Avoid It
A minor decline in mental capabilities is a common part of aging. However, natural changes in memory are different from other memory loss diseases such as Alzheimer’s. So how can you tell if you have normal age-related memory loss and not anything else?
What Is Memory Loss?
You might have memory loss if you forget a person’s name but remember it later in the day. You might also forget where you placed things from time to time. You need to make lists to keep up with appointments and tasks.
It’s worth noting that normal age-related memory loss usually has no significant impact on your quality of life. It is manageable and does not interfere with your ability to work or social relationships.
What Causes Memory Loss?
Memory loss can just be a natural part of aging. However, some other factors might harm the brain’s ability to remember. Some other culprits that cause memory loss include:
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Head Injury
Whether from a car accident or sports, concussions can cause forgetfulness and make it challenging to recall new information. This happens a lot in the beginning stages of rehabilitation. Mild head injuries rarely result in long-term memory loss. However, severe head injuries may result in permanent memory loss.
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Medications
Certain medicines might impair our memory and slow down our thinking process. Medications can make our minds foggy, making it harder to focus on a task and remember information. Several medicines that can cause memory loss include:
- Antidepressants
- Antihistamines
- Muscle relaxants
- Tranquilizers
- Sleeping pills
- Painkillers
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Alcohol or Smoking
Heavy drinking can cause memory problems. According to research, people who consume five or more drinks might not be able to recall the key details of an event that occurred while drinking.
Long-term cigarette smoking might also impair memory. Many components of cigarette smoke are detrimental to the human brain. According to a study involving 68 participants, smokers had poorer visual memory than nonsmokers.
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Stress, Anxiety or Depression
Depressed people tend to have difficulty recalling specific details of their past experiences. Depression also affects your prospective memory or the ability to remember to do something in the future.
Your capacity to remember might also be harmed when you are anxious. In addition, emotional trauma can cause stress, contributing to memory loss.
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Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation has a negative effect on attention and working memory by impairing the ability to process new information. It disrupts how memories are consolidated since the brain does not have enough time to create new pathways for the information you’ve recently acquired.
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Stroke
A stroke happens when an artery to the brain is blocked or a vessel leaks into the brain, cutting off the blood supply to the brain. Short-term memory loss is a common side effect of strokes. Recovery of memory loss takes place several days after a stroke. However, recovery can continue for months or years.
How to Reverse Memory Loss
Taking supplements containing a senolytic complex might be a way to reverse memory loss. A senolytic complex is a formulation that promotes senolytic activity and the process of eliminating senescent cells. One essential ingredient in the senolytic complex is curcumin which can help reduce age-related memory loss.
Studies have shown that curcumin can increase the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is involved in new neural connections. BDNF deficiency has an impact on cognitive function, learning, and memory. Curcumin’s positive effect on BDNF levels suggests that it can help treat neurological disorders linked with low BDNF levels.
Curcumin also assists in reducing inflammation and oxidative damage, the leading causes of Alzheimer’s disease. According to a study, curcumin can also prevent amyloid aggregation, the aggregate of proteins accumulated among individuals with Alzheimer’s.
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How to Prevent Memory Loss
Because head injuries are one of the most likely causes of memory loss, reducing the risk of suffering such injuries is critical. The following are some ways for preventing memory loss due to head injury:
- Wear a helmet when bicycling
- Fasten the seat belt when driving
- Treat any infection as soon as possible so that it does not spread to the brain
Other ways to prevent memory loss include:
- Avoid taking medications if possible
- Give up on alcohol and smoking
- Reduce stress, anxiety, and depression
- Try to get at least 7 hours of good-quality sleep per night
- See a doctor if you have any symptoms of a stroke
Whether minor or severe, memory loss can affect our quality of life. Knowing these causes and precautions may help you preserve your memory for years and your quality of life with it.
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