take images of your brain to look for damage.take a blood test to check for infection or vitamin deficiencies.Your doctor will talk to you and examine you. If you or someone you know are struggling to remember things like close family members' names, or if you can't retain new information, it's important to see your doctor.Īnd if you have any memory loss at all after a head injury or a suspected concussion, you should see your doctor. after losing the supply of oxygen to the brain, such as with a heart attack or heart surgery.a type of epilepsy (transient epileptic amnesia).psychological conditions, such as anxiety or depression.tumours in the area of the brain that control memoryĪmnesia can also be caused by issues that affect the whole brain, such as:.It can be caused by damage to the parts of the brain that are important for memory. There is a long list of conditions that can cause amnesia. It is usually temporary, but can be permanent in some situations.
It is often a symptom of another condition. People who have amnesia might also be confused and have trouble learning anything new.īut most people with amnesia still remember who they are, and can often remember events from their childhood.Īmnesia is not a medical condition on its own, but a description of an experience. People with amnesia can struggle to form new memories or remember recent events or experiences. Something like getting more sleep, switching a medication, or a stress reduction program could get your memory back on track.Amnesia is loss of memory. If memory lapses are bugging you, it’s worth a conversation with your doctor to see if any reversible causes are at the root of the problem. Forgetfulness can also be a sign of depression - or a consequence of it. Both can interfere with attention and block the formation of new memories or the retrieval of old ones.ĭepression. Common signs of depression include a stifling sadness, lack of drive, and lessening of pleasure in things you ordinarily enjoy. Stress and anxiety. Anything that makes it harder to concentrate and lock in new information and skills can lead to memory problems. One drink is generally defined as 1.5 ounces (1 shot glass) of 80-proof spirits, 5 ounces of wine, or 12 ounces of beer. Although "too much" varies from person to person, it’s best to stick with the recommendation of no more than two drinks per day for men and no more than one a day for women. A simple blood test can tell if your thyroid is doing its job properly.Īlcohol. Drinking too much alcohol can interfere with short-term memory, even after the effects of alcohol have worn off. Underactive thyroid. A faltering thyroid can affect memory (as well as disturb sleep and cause depression, both of which can be causes of forgetfulness). (Adapted from Improving Memory: Understanding age-related memory loss, a Harvard Medical School Special Health Report) Loratadine (Claritin) or other non-sedating antihistamine Other medications for an overactive bladder, such as trospium (Sanctura), solifenacin (Vesicare), or darifenacin (Enablex)Īmitriptyline (Elavil), desipramine (Norpramin), or nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor)Īnother type of medication, depending on why your doctor has prescribed a tricyclic antidepressant (neuropathic pain, depression, etc.)Ĭold or allergy medication containing brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine, or diphenhydramine Oxybutynin (Ditropan) or tolterodine (Detrol, Detrusitol) Medications that may affect memory and possible substitutesĪsk about switching to one of these drugsĪnother antidepressant such as fluoxetine (Prozac) or sertraline (Zoloft), or a different type of antidepressant such as duloxetine (Cymbalta) or venlafaxine (Effexor)Ī different type of heartburn drug, such as lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), or esomeprazole (Nexium) A study using glucose PET has shown that 0.25 sevoflurane blocks emotional memory by suppressing amygdala-to-hippocampal effective connectivity ( 02 ). As shown in the table below, alternatives are usually available. Although inhalational anesthetic agents are among the most potent drugs that cause temporary amnesia, their effect on human emotional memory processing is not clear and is being studied. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you suspect that a new medication is taking the edge off your memory. That can make it difficult to pay close attention to new things.
Medications. Tranquilizers, antidepressants, some blood pressure drugs, and other medications can affect memory, usually by causing sedation or confusion. Too little restful sleep can also lead to mood changes and anxiety, which in turn contribute to problems with memory. Lack of sleep. Not getting enough sleep is perhaps the greatest unappreciated cause of forgetfulness. But there are some treatable causes of forgetfulness. When they happen more than they should, they can trigger fears of looming dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Memory slips are aggravating, frustrating, and sometimes worrisome.
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