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Memory Loss
Brain & Cognitive Health
What is Memory Loss?
Some degree of memory problems, as well as a modest decline in other thinking skills, is a fairly common part of normal aging. There is a distinction between normal changes in memory and memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease and other cause of dementia and neurodegenerative disease. Some of the conditions which causes memory loss are curable and treatable.
Dementias are responsible for the greatest burden of neurodegenerative diseases, with Alzheimer’s representing approximately 60-70% of dementia cases. In general, dementia is the term for memory loss and the most common type of dementia is called Alzheimer’s disease.
Every type of dementia is a result of neurodegeneration (shrinking of the brain). Shrinking is caused by a lot of neuronal (nerve cell) death occurring throughout the brain. Because of the large number of neurons dying, people with dementia not only start losing their memories, but they eventually lose their ability to move, communicate, and even think properly.
Other early signs might include:
- Asking the same questions repeatedly
- Forgetting common words when speaking
- Mixing words up
- Taking longer to complete familiar and simple tasks
- Misplacing items
- Getting lost while walking or driving in a familiar area
- Having changes in mood or behavior for no apparent reason
Mild Cognitive Impairment
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the stage between the expected cognitive decline of normal aging and the more serious decline of dementia. It can involve problems with memory, language, thinking and judgment that are greater than normal age-related changes. If you or a loved one start to become aware that memory or mental function has been progressively worsening, this could be considered MCI, but symptoms should not be severe enough to significantly interfere with your daily life and usual activities.
Some of the signs of MCI:
- Becoming more forgetful
- Forgetting important events such as appointments or social engagements
- Losing train of thought or the thread of conversations, books or moviesl
- Feeling increasingly overwhelmed by making decisions, planning steps to accomplish a task or understanding instructionsl
- Having trouble finding your way around familiar environmentsl
- Family and friends notice changes in cognition
There is no specific test to confirm a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Your doctor will decide whether MCI is the most likely cause of your symptoms based on the information you provide and results of various tests that can help clarify the diagnosis.
Researchers and physicians are still learning about mild cognitive impairment. For many people, the condition eventually progresses to dementia due to Alzheimer's disease or another disorder causing dementia. Other people's memory loss doesn't progress much, and they don't develop the spectrum of symptoms associated with dementia.
Treatable and Curable Causes of Memory Loss
Traditional medical management of mental health is dominated by the over prescribing of psychiatric medications. Mental health is the most poorly managed medical specialty in healthcare and is a major contributor to societies declining health. The diagnosis of mental health disorders is at an all-time high and in most cases the medications being prescribed only act as “Band-Aids” to reduce symptoms without opportunities for improvements and a long list of side effects that at times are worse than the mental illness.
The side effects of the medications cause people to refrain from treatment leaving them self-medicating with illicit drugs or struggling to get by with no treatment at all. Medications don’t lead to cures or permanent solutions, but rather provide relief of symptoms and sometimes long-term stability –there are more options available for mental health.
Non pharmaceutical support for mental health include:
- Getting professional help especially if any suicidal thoughts
- Consider less communication through electronics
- Focus on relationships and direct contact
- Staying positive
- Maximize lifestyle – sleep, diet and exercise (these are free)
- Helping others
- Stress management – coping skills
Many cases of mental illness are caused or exacerbated by physical conditions, which expand our opportunity for treatment. Beyond traditional medical therapies there are also several research-supported alternative or wellness based therapies that can have a major impact on both disease treatment and prevention.
Alternative Therapies
Alternative therapies to help prevent and treat physical causes of mental illness:
- Maximizing health of the nervous system
- Enhancing the immune system
- Improving mitochondria function
- Improving insulin sensitivity
- Reducing inflammation
- Reducing body fat
- Increasing lean muscle mass
- Improving sleep
- Improving blood flow to the body and brain
Can it be treated?
For the treatable causes listed above you would start with treating the underlying condition. Knowing that mitochondria dysfunction and inflammation can be associated with higher risks of memory loss and forgetfulness, this provides an opportunity for helpful treatment options. Beyond traditional medical therapies there are also several research supported alternative or wellness based therapies that can have a major impact on disease treatment and prevention.
Alternative therapies work by contributing to the following:
- Maximizing health of the nervous system
- Enhancing the immune system
- Improving mitochondria function
- Improving insulin sensitivity
- Reducing inflammation
- Reducing body fat
- Increasing lean muscle mass
- Improving sleep
- Improving blood flow to the body and brain
Alzheimer's disease is not the only medical condition that can cause memory problems. Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that mainly leads to memory loss.
It’s Not All Physical - The Importance of Mental Health.