Do you find yourself losing your keys a lot? Do you sometimes get to the grocery store only to realize you left your list at home? Have you ever looked for your glasses while they were on your face???
Finding your keys in the freezer, or feeling silly when you find your eyewear on your eyes is a common occurrence. We all have tiny bouts of forgetfulness that help us laugh at ourselves and appreciate how silly life can be. When you start forgetting to turn off the oven, or miss important appointments, it’s time to look at your memory problems a little deeper. Memory loss can be a sign that something more serious is going on below the surface.
Common Causes of Memory Loss
Most commonly, we tend to associate memory loss with debilitating diseases like Alzheimer’s or Dementia, but memory loss can be caused by a wide variety of things, especially in older adults. Experiencing memory loss to some extent is a common part of the aging process.
Forgetfulness can also be a symptom of a variety of underlying conditions. Many disorders and conditions that cause degrees of memory loss can be identified and treated!
Common Treatable Conditions that Affect Memory Loss:
- Head injuries or minor head trauma
- Medications that can cause confusion or forgetfulness
- Alcoholism
- Insomnia
- Mental/emotional disorders (e.g. stress, depression, anxiety)
- Hypothyroidism
- Vitamin deficiencies (B-12 most commonly)
How the Forgetful Brain Functions
Memory loss can be the result of many different functions and phenomena in the brain.
The Decay Theory
The Decay Theory relates to one’s inability to successfully recall a memory. The theory says that a memory trace is created in your brain during new experiences, or when you take in information. It states that if information is not frequently retrieved from your memory, referenced or rehearsed, that the memory traces that were created initially will decay over time.
The Interference Phenomenon
Interference occurs when new memories interfere or “compete” with previously stored memories. If the information is very similar, the brain may choose to replace previously stored information with new information, or fail to record new information that matches memories already in the brain.
The Failure to Store Information
Sometimes, when you fail to recall information it is less a product of “forgetting” the information, but the brain’s failure to store the information in the first place. The brain stores pieces of the memory, but not the specifics.
For example, you could easily identify different coin types in a pile of coins. You could identify a penny from a dime, a nickel from a quarter, and so on, right? Could you draw one accurately from memory? Probably not..The brain stores the general picture of the penny but not the specific words or precise images.
Proactively Preventing Memory Loss
Don’t let the fear of memory loss get you down! You can proactively work to strengthen your memory and help prevent future forgetting!
First and foremost, take care of yourself. Hydrate, eat well, exercise and get plenty of sleep. Have a diet that consists of brain boosting foods and partake in regular exercise to boost memory function.
Take notes and rehearse information! When you write down new information, or go over it repeatedly in your mind, you are strengthening the memory’s pathway in your brain. The stronger the pathway, the easier the memory will be to recall!
Boost your brain with cognitive supplements! Nootropic products are becoming more popular as people are turning toward natural remedies to boost their brain function. Cognitive defense supplements help boost memory function, alertness, energy levels, retention abilities and helps eliminate brain fog!