MEMORY LOSS AND FORGETFULNESS

Is your memory getting worse? 6 reasons why that is happening

Our brains are always sorting, storing and retrieving information. It’s a busy job, and it’s normal for things to fall through the cracks.

But not all memory loss is normal. Sometimes, memory loss can be linked to specific causes and even be a sign of a bigger problem. Here are some of the things that could be causing your memory glitches – and bear in mind that there may be several things going on, even if one is dominant:

You are stressed or anxious

That would be the woman doing 700 things at the same time, or someone who has a lot of long-term external pressures, such as financial trouble or a loved one who’s not well. When you have too many balls in the air or are burning the candle at both ends, cortisol levels run high. This stress hormone that keeps you revved and ready also affects the hippocampus and other parts of the brain that are involved in memory. Similarly, anxiety – persistent worry about something that may or may not happen in the future – feels like stress to your body, and so has the same effect on your brain. When your anxiety level is high, you can’t focus on anything and your attention is going to be impaired – it’s going to feel like you have a memory disorder because you can’t concentrate on anything.

You’re feeling depressed

The jury is out as to whether depression is a cause of memory loss or a symptom of it, but either way, research shows a link between depression and cognitive impairments, including memory issues. Even people who only have a symptom or two can have issues: One study that looked at people who were not clinically depressed found that the more symptoms of depression they had, the more memory issues they reported. And struggling with depression from a young age, another study found, is associated with poorer memory in midlife. And wouldn’t you know it? Certain older antidepressants are also associated with memory loss. Fortunately, newer medications have less of a deleterious effect on memory.

You’re not sleeping well or enough

Whatever the reason you’re not getting enough good quality sleep, poor shuteye can affect your memory in a big way. During the deeper stages of sleep, certain proteins are cleared out of the brain. But if you never get to the stages of sleep when these housekeeping activities are thought to be taking place, perhaps toxic substances can build up in the brain and affect the way these nerves work. Talk to your doctor about possible sleep disorders such as restless leg syndrome or sleep apnea for which you can be treated – improving sleep can boost your alertness throughout the day, which helps memory.

Maybe your medications are fogging your mind

Certain medications are known to affect memory. And in the nothing-is-simple department, some of these meds are ones you’d take to help with anxiety, depression, disrupted sleep, or other problems that may keep you up at night – conditions that if left untreated can contribute to memory issues. Benzodiazepines (often taken for anxiety) are known to affect memory, as are a class of drugs called “anticholinergics,” which show up in treatments for stress urinary incontinence, over-the-counter sleep aids, and allergy treatments like Benadryl. Tricyclic antidepressants and certain opioids also deal your memory a blow.

Perhaps you have a thyroid issue

Hypothyroidism not only causes forgetfulness and brain fog, but research has shown that the condition can result in shrinkage of the hippocampus, an area of the brain involved with both long and short term memory. And hyperthyroidism can interfere with cognitive function, and a review of the literature has found that studies with a larger sample size have shown statistically significant evidence of hyperthyroidism increasing the risk of dementia in older patients. Thyroid hormones are so important for the energy metabolism of individual cells, including those in the brain.

You might have a B12 or folate deficiency

One of the known treatable causes of dementia is a vitamin B12 deficiency found in foods like salmon, liver and milk. The vitamin supports nerve health, so we may check for vitamin B12 deficiency after the age 50 to make sure people are not deficient. That said, taking B12 pills does not help to improve memory unless you’re deficient, which means taking extra B12 or folate isn’t going to make you sharper.

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