Memory loss and forgetfulness are normal with age. Just because you cannot remember where you put your keys or the name of a person you just met does not imply you are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Below, we explore some common reasons why you might experience memory issues.
- “Summer Slides”
Memory problems do not just affect adults. School-age kids also suffer from a form of memory loss called “Summer Slide”. Summer Slide is a phenomenon in which kids lose some of the skills or information they learned in the previous school year during summer vacation. Teachers often need to spend days or weeks reviewing the start of the new year rather than continuing from the previous year because kids just do not remember.
One way to combat the Summer Slide is to hire one online tutors to keep your kids’ brains energized and learning all summer long. Encourage reading and imaginative play rather than letting them vegetate in front of a screen all summer. When a new school year starts, their minds will be primed and prepared to learn more.
- Head Injury/Trauma
One of the most common causes of memory problems in adults is head trauma. Even if the injury is minor and you do not lose consciousness, it is still enough to cause memory problems. Depending on the severity of the injury, this kind of memory loss often resolves on its own. In the meantime, you must be patient and loosen up. Memory loss can be frustrating, but if you seek proper medical attention and permit your brain to recover, your memory will come back on its own.
- Drugs
Some drugs, or some combinations of drugs, can cause problems with forgetfulness and memory loss. Depending on what medicine you’re taking, you may or may not have the ability to stop taking it. Talk to your doctor about the problem you are having and whether there are alternatives that will stop or reduce the memory problems you are having. There is usually more than one way to treat physical and mental conditions, so do not sweat it if you think it is your thing Memory problems may be a side effect of your medicine.
- Emotional Problems
Anxiety, stress, and depression take a toll on the mind and body, which can lead to memory problems and forgetfulness. They can even cause an absence of focus and confusion. Sometimes, talking to a licensed therapist helps resolve these emotional issues for a better quality of life.
- Lack of vitamins
Vitamin deficiencies – especially vitamin B-12 – can cause memory problems. Vitamin B-12 is responsible for maintaining healthy nerves and red blood cells and is usually missing in older adults.
- Alcoholism
While the occasional glass of wine or organic gin can be part of a healthy lifestyle, chronic alcoholism is a major reason behind memory problems because it impairs cognition. Alcohol also interacts with many drugs, which can even cause memory problems when the two are ingested together.
- Brain Disease
Similar to dementia, some brain diseases such as tumors or infections can cause memory loss and confusion. These diseases may or may not be treatable, so consult your doctor if you have memory problems accompanied by a headache or fever.
Memory loss and forgetfulness can be a frustrating problem for victims and their family and shut friends. If you have memory problems and fall into any of the categories listed above, talk to your doctor instantly for a diagnosis and possible treatment to slow or reverse the cause.
