There are different processes involved in remembering things:
Firstly, one will need to pay attention. If you are not able to focus, then you will not be able to pay notice and then register the piece of information. Here are some factors:
- High-stress level - it will interfere with our ability to focus and pay attention.
- Multitask - it will cause you to get distracted easily.
- Frequent interruptions - It makes it hard for your brain to form new memories.
Second, you will need to store that piece of memory in the brain. Memory consolidation occurs during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. It came as no surprise that people with sleep deprivation oftentimes are noted for their poor memory. Alcohol also interferes with REM sleep and memory consolidation.
Third, to be able to retrieve the information that has been stored. Fatigue and tiredness can interfere with the retrieval process. Persons with head injuries can have problems with memory storage, consolidation and retrieval. Anxious people may have problems with focus and memory retrieval.
Here are some of the common causes of memory loss and forgetfulness seen in young people:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
- Trauma to the head
- Sleep deprivation – insufficient sleep syndrome (where a person would sacrifice sleep to do other tasks like watching a movie or gaming); insomnia disorder (where a person wants to sleep but cannot sleep well)
- Sleep apnea
- Medications (e.g. sedating ones like antihistamines, sleeping pills, pain medicines given after surgery)
- Underactive thyroid gland
- Nutritional deficiencies (e.g, Vitamin B1 and B12 deficiencies)
- Other medical conditions like kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes
- Alcohol, tobacco or drug use. (e.g., smoking harms memory by decreasing the amount of oxygen available to the brain.)
The list of possible causes is indeed long. Do get medical attention if your memory problems cause you distress, interfere with your studies, work, family or social life.
For the elderly, sometimes, even what looks like significant memory loss can be caused by treatable conditions and reversible external factors such as:
- depression,
- folate and vitamin B12 deficiency,
- thyroid problems,
- sleep disorders,
- alcohol use,
- dehydration,
- side effects of medications (especially those with anticholinergic side effects as the cholinergic receptors in our brains are important for memory).
At my clinic, I find that many elderly patients who present with memory loss, the common reasons for their memory problems are: depression, dementia and delirium (confusion due to medical problems). There are at least three different types of specialists who can help the elderly person with memory issues:
- Psychiatrists who would evaluate your condition and treat various problems like depression, dementia, anxiety, sleep problems and alcohol use disorder. For patients who are anxious, they may not be able to attend to happenings around them and that may explain their poor memory.
- Neurologists who treat conditions like dementia, traumatic brain injuries, strokes, all of which can affect one's memory.
- Geriatricians who treat a variety of conditions that are encountered in old age.
