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{{ClinPsy}}
  
{{ClinPsy}}
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'''Memory loss''' can be caused by many things.
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Memory loss can be partial or total and it is normal when it comes with [[Ageing|aging]].
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Sudden memory loss is usually a result of [[Traumatic brain injury|brain trauma]] and it may be permanent or temporary. When it is caused by medical conditions such as [[Alzheimer's disease]], the memory loss is gradual and tends to be permanent. Otherwise the condition is temporary and only affects memories relating to a portion of one's experience.
   
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Brain trauma is not the only factor that can cause sudden memory loss. It may appear as a side effect of [[statin|statin drugs]] that are used as treatment for those who have [[hypercholesterolemia]]. Major causes of sudden loss of memory are [[stroke|strokes]]. Other causes are long lasting and recurrent illnesses such as [[meningitis]] or [[epilepsy]].
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* [[Alzheimers Disease|Alzheimer's Disease]] is an illness which can cause mild to severe memory loss.
  
   
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==Causes==
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* [[Parkinsonism|Parkinson's Disease]] is a genetic defect which can result in memory loss.
  
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'''Memory loss''' can have many causes:
   
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* [[Huntington's disease|Huntington's Disease]] is an inhereted disease which can result in memory loss.
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*Alzheimer's disease is an illness which can cause mild to severe memory loss.
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*[[Parkinsonism|Parkinson's disease]] is a genetic defect which may result in memory loss.
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*[[Huntington's disease]] is an inherited disease which can result in memory loss.
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*It is sometimes a side effect of [[chemotherapy]] in which [[cytotoxicity|cytotoxic drugs]] are used to treat cancer.
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*Certain forms of [[mental illness]] also have memory loss as a key symptom, including [[fugue state]]s and the much more famous [[Dissociative Identity Disorder]].
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*Stress-related activities are another factor which can result in memory loss.
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*It can also be caused by traumatic brain injury, of which a [[concussion]] is a form.
   
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==Symptoms==
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* stress related activities are another factor which can result in memory loss.
  
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The symptoms of memory loss depend from person to person. They usually occur gradually and they may be different in intensity depending on what is causing the condition. From remembering dates and names, going out on errands and forgetting their purpose or getting easily lost to having difficulties in performing familiar tasks such as driving or baking. Confusion or decreased [[alertness]] may be the first symptom of memory loss and also of a serious illness, particularly in older adults. <ref>[http://health.yahoo.com/alzheimers-overview/confusion-memory-loss-and-altered-alertness/healthwise--confu.html Confusion, Memory Loss, and Altered Alertness] Retrieved on 2010-03-10</ref>
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The most worrying symptoms are not those related to things that people forget to do. Some patients may have problems in mixing up words for objects or can have trouble understanding or taking part in a conversation. Being unable to make a simple decision can suggest that something is not working as it should and a [[medical advice]] should be sought. <ref>[http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-most-common-memory-loss-symptoms.htm What Are the Most Common Memory Loss Symptoms?] Retrieved on 2010-03-10</ref>
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Whether an individual suffers from memory loss is not decided only based on one's symptoms. In order to diagnose the condition a doctor will obtain a detailed medical history of the patient. The patient will also undergo several [[Neuropsychology|neuropsychological]] tests that will focus on his or her memory functions. Several other medical exams such as an [[electroencephalography]], an [[Magnetic resonance imaging|MRI]], or a [[X-ray computed tomography|CT scan]] can be performed in order to establish an accurate diagnosis.
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==Prevention==
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Sudden trauma cannot really be foreseen by anyone so there is no actual way in which one could prevent this condition. However, seen that the most common cause of memory loss are brain traumas (especially those resulting from [[head injury]]), people should take some preventative measures, such as wearing the seat belt while driving or a helmet while biking. <ref>[http://www.suddenmemoryloss.com/ Sudden Memory Loss Causes and Diagnosis] Retrieved on 2010-03-10</ref>
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Eating [[nutrition|nutritious]] foods and reducing [[Stress (biology)|stress]] can prevent in some way the symptoms of the condition. Avoiding risk factors such as abusing alcohol or being exposed to toxic chemicals may also help. People that have [[hypertension|high blood pressure]] have an increased risk for strokes and therefore for memory loss. They should try keeping their blood pressure under control and if possible adjust their life style by quitting smoking and exercising more.
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==References==
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<references/>
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{{Reflist}}
   
 
==See also==
  
==See also==
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*[[Amnesia]]
 
*[[Memory and aging]]
  
*[[Memory and aging]]
 
*[[Memory bias]]
  
*[[Memory bias]]
   
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{{Memory}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Memory Loss}}
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[[Category:Memory]]
   
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{{enWP|Memory loss}}
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{{medsign-stub}}
  

Revision as of 00:18, 15 March 2010

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Memory loss can be partial or total and it is normal when it comes with aging. Sudden memory loss is usually a result of brain trauma and it may be permanent or temporary. When it is caused by medical conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, the memory loss is gradual and tends to be permanent. Otherwise the condition is temporary and only affects memories relating to a portion of one's experience.

Brain trauma is not the only factor that can cause sudden memory loss. It may appear as a side effect of statin drugs that are used as treatment for those who have hypercholesterolemia. Major causes of sudden loss of memory are strokes. Other causes are long lasting and recurrent illnesses such as meningitis or epilepsy.

Causes

Memory loss can have many causes:

Symptoms

The symptoms of memory loss depend from person to person. They usually occur gradually and they may be different in intensity depending on what is causing the condition. From remembering dates and names, going out on errands and forgetting their purpose or getting easily lost to having difficulties in performing familiar tasks such as driving or baking. Confusion or decreased alertness may be the first symptom of memory loss and also of a serious illness, particularly in older adults. [1]

The most worrying symptoms are not those related to things that people forget to do. Some patients may have problems in mixing up words for objects or can have trouble understanding or taking part in a conversation. Being unable to make a simple decision can suggest that something is not working as it should and a medical advice should be sought. [2]

Whether an individual suffers from memory loss is not decided only based on one's symptoms. In order to diagnose the condition a doctor will obtain a detailed medical history of the patient. The patient will also undergo several neuropsychological tests that will focus on his or her memory functions. Several other medical exams such as an electroencephalography, an MRI, or a CT scan can be performed in order to establish an accurate diagnosis.

Prevention

Sudden trauma cannot really be foreseen by anyone so there is no actual way in which one could prevent this condition. However, seen that the most common cause of memory loss are brain traumas (especially those resulting from head injury), people should take some preventative measures, such as wearing the seat belt while driving or a helmet while biking. [3]

Eating nutritious foods and reducing stress can prevent in some way the symptoms of the condition. Avoiding risk factors such as abusing alcohol or being exposed to toxic chemicals may also help. People that have high blood pressure have an increased risk for strokes and therefore for memory loss. They should try keeping their blood pressure under control and if possible adjust their life style by quitting smoking and exercising more.

References

  1. ↑ Confusion, Memory Loss, and Altered Alertness Retrieved on 2010-03-10
  2. ↑ What Are the Most Common Memory Loss Symptoms? Retrieved on 2010-03-10
  3. ↑ Sudden Memory Loss Causes and Diagnosis Retrieved on 2010-03-10

See also

Memory
Types of memory
Articulatory suppression‎ | Auditory memory | Autobiographical memory | Collective memory | Early memories | Echoic Memory | Eidetic memory | Episodic memory | Episodic-like memory  | Explicit memory  |Exosomatic memory | False memory |Flashbulb memory | Iconic memory | Implicit memory | Institutional memory | Long term memory | Music-related memory | Procedural memory | Prospective memory | Repressed memory | Retrospective memory | Semantic memory | Sensory memory | Short term memory | Spatial memory | State-dependent memory | Tonal memory | Transactive memory | Transsaccadic memory | Verbal memory  | Visual memory  | Visuospatial memory  | Working memory  |
Aspects of memory
Childhood amnesia | Cryptomnesia |Cued recall | Eye-witness testimony | Memory and emotion | Forgetting |Forgetting curve | Free recall | Levels-of-processing effect | Memory consolidation |Memory decay | Memory distrust syndrome |Memory inhibition | Memory and smell | Memory for the future | Memory loss | Memory optimization | Memory trace | Mnemonic | Memory biases  | Modality effect | Tip of the tongue | Lethologica | Memory loss |Priming | Primacy effect | Reconstruction | Proactive interference | Prompting | Recency effect | Recall (learning) | Recognition (learning) | Reminiscence | Retention | Retroactive interference | Serial position effect | Serial recall | Source amnesia |
Memory theory
Atkinson-Shiffrin | Baddeley | CLARION | Decay theory | Dual-coding theory | Interference theory |Memory consolidation | Memory encoding | Memory-prediction framework | Forgetting | Recall | Recognition |
Mnemonics
Method of loci | Mnemonic room system | Mnemonic dominic system | Mnemonic learning | Mnemonic link system |Mnemonic major system | Mnemonic peg system | [[]] |[[]] |
Neuroanatomy of memory
Amygdala | Hippocampus | prefrontal cortex  | Neurobiology of working memory | Neurophysiology of memory | Rhinal cortex | Synapses |[[]] |
Neurochemistry of memory
Glutamatergic system  | of short term memory | [[]] |[[]] | [[]] | [[]] | [[]] | [[]] |[[]] |
Developmental aspects of memory
Prenatal memory | |Childhood memory | Memory and aging | [[]] | [[]] |
Memory in clinical settings
Alcohol amnestic disorder | Amnesia | Dissociative fugue | False memory syndrome | False memory | Hyperthymesia | Memory and aging | Memory disorders | Memory distrust syndrome  Repressed memory  Traumatic memory |
Retention measures
Benton | CAMPROMPT | Implicit memory testing | Indirect tests of memory | MAS | Memory tests for children | MERMER | Rey-15 | Rivermead | TOMM | Wechsler | WMT | WRAML2 |
Treating memory problems
CBT | EMDR | Psychotherapy | Recovered memory therapy |Reminiscence therapy | Memory clinic | Memory training | Rewind technique |
Prominant workers in memory|-
Baddeley | Broadbent |Ebbinghaus  | Kandel |McGaugh | Schacter  | Treisman | Tulving  |
Philosophy and historical views of memory
Aristotle | [[]] |[[]] |[[]] |[[]] | [[]] | [[]] | [[]] |
Miscellaneous
Journals | Learning, Memory, and Cognition |Journal of Memory and Language |Memory |Memory and Cognition | [[]] | [[]] | [[]] |
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