At the outset, it will be important to qualify that, 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).
There are at least three different types of specialists who can help you.
- 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.
