Signs & Symptoms of Memory Loss
The signs and symptoms of memory loss can vary depending on the cause. There are many different causes of memory loss, some more serious than others. The symptoms may be very similar, but it is the slight distinctions that are important for making a diagnosis. Most types of memory loss have to do with the hippocampus which is the part of the brain in charge of memory.
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General
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General memory loss can occur from time to time without the presence of a serious medical disorder. The symptoms can include forgetfulness, losing train of thought and difficulty remembering recent events. This type of memory loss usually occurs when a person is distracted at the time the memory is formed. It differs from a serious brain disorder in that it is not accompanied by any other symptoms and does not have a significant negative impact on daily life.
Amnesia
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There are two types of amnesia: retrograde amnesia and anterograde amnesia. Symptoms of memory loss due to retrograde amnesia are confusion, difficulty remembering past events, inability to remember names of people from their past including themselves and no memory of the injury to the brain that caused the amnesia. Symptoms of anterograde amnesia also occur after a brain injury and include trouble forming new memories, difficulty holding a conversation if distracted and inability to remember new people, places or events.
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Old Age
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As a person ages the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex regions of the brain begin to shrink as the dendrites in the brain begin to retract, leading to memory problems. Symptoms of memory loss due to old age include general forgetfulness, misplacing items like car keys, forgetting to do some household chores and forgetting appointments. Memory loss due to old age is normal and does not require any formal treatment unless it progresses into dementia.
Stress
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Chronic stress can cause temporary to permanent memory loss. Symptoms include forgetfulness, reduced intensity of emotional memories, distraction, difficulty forming memories and forgetting past events in addition to the typical symptoms of stress. Although memory loss due from everyday stress is not common, chronic stress can actually cause damage to the hippocampus interfering with the way memories are stored. Chronic stress left untreated can continue to cause damage and may even cause amnesia in some cases.
Alzheimer's
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Alzheimer's disease is a condition that causes memory loss in old age. Symptoms include forgetting important memories, forgetting family and friends, no recollection of important facts about themselves (their name, age, etc.) and forgetting to do everyday tasks (like eating and showering). Alzheimer's disease and dementia stand out from normal memory loss due to old age in that the person's everyday life is seriously impaired by their disease.
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