WHAT IS MEMORY LOSS?

Memory loss is a condition that is very common with age. The likelihood of developing memory loss is high as one gets older. People who are 60 and above are most likely to develop age-related memory loss.

Memory loss is a normal part of aging, but not all memory loss is due to old age. Several conditions can cause memory loss. It is not only peculiar to old age.

Age-related memory loss is often characterized by mild forgetfulness and a modest decline in thinking skills. In some cases, age-related memory loss does not progress to dementia

AGE-RELATED MEMORY LOSS AND DEMENTIA

We all do experience forgetfulness sometimes, but as people get older, they often start to experience more memory lapses from time to time, like forgetting someone's name, misplacing things, etc

The type of memory loss that is associated with Dementia is progressive memory loss. It starts from mild to a more severe memory problem.

Dementia starts as a mild memory loss and would progress to more complicated memory problems, severe enough to disrupt your daily life.

Early symptoms of memory loss include;

• Asking the same questions repeatedly

• Frequent mood swing

• Becoming more confused with time, people, and places

• Getting lost in familiar places

• Taking a longer time to complete familiar tasks

• Forgetting common words when speaking

A LEAKY BRAIN

According to a study conducted a few years ago by a group of researchers, a leaky blood vessel in the brain is responsible for a series of brain diseases including; Brain fog, memory loss, schizophrenia, Huntington's Disease, Depression, and Alzheimer’s Disease.

The brain becomes leaky when the blood-brain barrier (BBB) becomes weak, loose, and more permeable.

The blood-brain barrier is a single-layered lattice of cells joined together by a tight junction that is responsible of keep toxic substances from entering the brain.

A breakdown of the BBB could cause toxins to leak into the fluid that surrounds the brain cells, causing damage and death of these cells in most cases. These would result in several memory problems and memory loss is at the helm.

Memory loss associated with a leaky brain is often mild and could progress to Alzheimer’s disease if left untreated.

MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT (MCI)

Mild cognitive impairment is an early stage of memory loss and other cognitive problems like; thinking and language problems.

Mild cognitive impairments cause cognitive problems that are serious enough to be noticed by the victim, his friends, and families but are not severe enough to disrupt his daily life activities.

In some individuals, MCI reverts to normal cognition, while in others, it does not, but remains manageable.

The cause of MCI is yet to be fully understood by scientists. Old age is a major risk factor. MCI development could also be an early sign of Alzheimer's disease.

SYMPTOMS OF MCI

• Forgetting important information that one would have previously recalled. Information like recent appointments, conversations, and events.

• Inability to make sound decisions and judgments

SHORT AND LONG-TERM MEMORY LOSS

Short and long-term memory refers to the part of the brain that is involved in storing information for a short and long period respectively.

When this part of the brain is tempered, the individual will start to experience difficulties recalling memories from a shorter or longer period

OTHER CAUSES OF MEMORY LOSS

• Medications — Several medications can cause loss of memory or forgetfulness. Medications like; Antidepressants, Antihistamines, Anti-seizure medications, Diabetes medications, Sleeping pills, Some painkillers, Blood-pressure medications

• Vitamin B-12 Deficiency — Vitamin B12 deficiency is highly common in older people. It helps maintain healthy nerve cells.

• Stress And Anxiety — Untreated chronic stress can lead to depression, which could also damage brain function and could lead to loss of memory

• Head Injury — A head injury from a fall can cause memory problems

• Brain Disease — A tumor or infection in the brain can cause memory problems

• Sleep Problems — Sleep problems like insomnia as well as sleep apnea, if left untreated or poorly treated can cause loss of memory. Also, poor sleeping habits sustained for a long period could lead to memory problems.

• Alcohol — Excessive consumption of alcohol has been linked to causing loss of memory

• Smoking — A sustained habit of smoking could cause the smoker memory problems. Research has shown that smoking affects memory by reducing the amount of oxygen that gets to the brain.

Treatment for memory loss is solely dependent on the cause of the memory loss. In most cases, memory loss can be reversible with treatment.

Memory loss that is caused by medication can be treated with a change in medication.

Nutritional supplements can also be prescribed to someone whose memory loss is a result of nutritional deficiency. There are varieties of these supplements depending on needed nutrients as well as doctor's recommendation.

Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine are the most recommended and popular medications for Alzheimer's Disease-related problems.

They have shown significant success in mild cases of Alzheimer's disease with a couple of side effects that vary from person to person.

Neurodrine is another medication that is highly recommended for the treatment of memory problems, including memory loss.

It's a dietary supplement with the composition of several medicinal herbs that are effective in fighting against both age-related, aswell as Dementia- caused memory decline and also helps in improving cognitive abilities.

Neurodrine also helps in maintaining a healthy Blood-Brain-Barrier, as well as repairing a damaged one. It contains antioxidants and anti-depressant very effective in relieving stress and tackling depression ( stress and depression are a few of the root causes of a Leaky brain)

Read more about Neurodrine here