As we go about our daily lives, we tend to forget things
like names of people whom we've met at one point in our lives, the location
of a restaurant or our car keys or that certain word that is at the
tip of our tongues. This is considered to be normal since our brain
cannot accommodate all the information that it is fed.
However, when memory loss becomes a deterrent to us
in living our daily lives, then we are faced with a serious problem.
The kind of memory loss that involves the information necessary for
us to normally function needs medical attention.
There are many factors that are associated to cause
memory loss. Listed below are some of the most common causes:
Aging
Aging is considered as one of the most common causes
of memory loss. A person starts to lose brain cells at 20 but only a
few at a time. The body also lessens the production of chemicals which
are needed by the brain cells in order for them to work.
Age-related memory loss equates to a deficiency of neurotransmitters
that are the brain's chemical messengers. The older one gets, the greater
the acceleration of this process. In fact, around 10% of all people
above 70 years have severe memory problems.
Alzheimer's Disease
There are many causes other than aging which can cause
memory problems. Alzheimer's disease is one of the most feared memory
dysfunctions known to man since its cause is still unknown. It is a
form of progressive dementia which impairs the intellectual functions
of the brain including memory retention.
In America alone, around 4 million have fallen victims
to the dreaded disease. Half of all the people who have memory problems
suffer from Alzheimer's disease. More information is covered on this
dreaded disease in an upcoming chapter.
Head Injury
A head injury is defined as any trauma which leads to
the injury of the skull, brain or scalp. This includes minor injuries
such as a head bump and major brain injuries.
Severe head injuries can lead to problems of memory
loss. Approximately 2 million people suffer from head injuries each
year. Fast first aid treatment can improve the chances of saving life
of someone together with keeping his memory intact.
Seizures
A seizure is defined as a violent and uncontrollable
muscle contraction. Sometimes, seizures can just be a blanking out suddenly.
Medical Conditions
There are other medical conditions that can lead to
memory loss. Cardiac problems such as coronary artery disease, arrhythmias
and heart failure are some of the culprits. The reduced blood circulation
can have a detrimental effect to the brain.
Kidney and liver failures are also associated with memory
loss. These are conditions which increase the concentration of toxins
in the blood.
Malnutrition and deficiencies in vitamins can also cause
memory loss. Sometimes, these conditions are brought about by other
problems such as alcoholism. This is also referred to as the Wernicke-Korsakoff
Syndrome.
Taking too much medication is a
common cause of memory loss. Overdosing usually leads to an altered
state of mind and confusion.
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