Dealing With Memory Loss – Causes and Treatment

“I know ginkgo biloba helps with the memory, but I keep forgetting to take it!”

While forgetting to take your ginkgo makes for a funny, stereotypical cartoon, memory loss can range anywhere from annoying to devastating, depending on its causes. No one wants to lose their memory. If your memory is starting to go, there are many things you can do. The first step in fighting memory loss is to determine the cause. Once you know what’s taking your memories, you can determine the best plan to fight it.

The most common cause of memory loss is aging. As we age, we naturally lose some of the memory capabilities we previously had. While you can’t stop the effects of aging, you can take steps to slow them down. You should eat a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, and other protein sources. These foods contain nutrients that will help feed your brain and keep it working properly. You should also keep your body in shape by getting regular exercise. If you are older and can’t move as much as you used to, try to get up and walk as much as you can; every little bit helps. Along with exercising your body, you should also take steps to exercise your mind. Try to work on puzzles that require accessing memories and using deductive reasoning like crosswords or Sudoku. You can also make an effort to learn new skills and practice them regularly. This will help keep your neurons firing and your mind in shape.

One important fact to know is that memory loss due to aging is a slow process. However, if you notice a sudden or steep progressive loss of memory, it’s important to see a doctor immediately. If your memory loss is caused by a medical problem, early detection could be the key to treatment. Memory loss can be caused by Alzheimer’s or other neurodegenerative diseases, brain tumors, stroke, infection, or seizures. All of these are very serious and need to be treated as soon as possible. If you find you have a neurodegenerative disorder, you’ll probably find it helpful to take the steps mentioned above along with your prescribed medicines and therapies. As with aging, you may not be able to prevent all memory loss from these conditions, but you can see improvement or slow losses.

Have you been feeling kind of down lately? Clinical depression is caused by (and may cause) chemical imbalances in the brain. If your brain isn’t working correctly due to depression, you may experience some memory loss. If you’re noticing memory loss along with symptoms of depression like sadness, changes in appetite, and not wanting to participate in activities, you should seek treatment. In addition to the therapy or prescription medication a doctor may give you, eating right, exercise, and getting plenty of rest are good ways to help combat depression.

You may notice memory loss shortly after going on a new medication. Many times these drugs are simply making you very tired, which is why you are forgetting. Other medicines, particularly barbiturates, can just make you stop remembering things you used to. If memory loss from a medication is interfering with your everyday life, ask your doctor if there are any other options for treatment. You may also want to look into herbal remedies which generally have fewer side effects than conventional medications.

While all of us forget where we put our keys every once in a while, true memory loss is a problem and it’s important to let your doctor help determine if your problem is serious or reversible. The key to dealing with memory loss is to take action early. The sooner you act, the more likely you will be able to manage your memory loss.

~ Take a look at these puzzles and games - for your health's sake.