Memory loss can fall into two categories. It can either be short-term or long-term memory loss. Short-term memory loss, no matter how it is caused or brought on, includes memories that stem from the same area of the brain that handles working memory. It is generally coined as anterograde amnesia. Short-term memory typically includes, perhaps, what one ate for lunch that day, the recollection of a work meeting, or acquisition of new physical skills.

Short-term memory loss occurs when there has been damage to the hippocampus, the part of the brain that controls memory recollection, or nerves of the brain, either by swelling or a traumatic event and injury. Short-term memory loss is determined also as a body’s way of emotionally detaching from a seriously, life-changing event. For example, anterograde amnesia can occur after a car accident, rape, or death of a loved one. When someone begins to lose their short-term memory, it can be either sudden or progressive. If someone you know is suffering from the symptoms of short-term memory loss, it is highly recommended that medical attention be sought to prevent long-term damage to the brain, or to diagnose a larger issue.

Short-term memory loss may appear at first as simple forgetfulness–you can’t recall what you had for breakfast, or you forgot the new person’s name at work. But when it becomes a daily occurrence that is need for concern, one should definitely bring the issue to their doctor’s attention, as short-term memory loss, especially memory loss that is more permanent and progressive, is nothing to be taken lightly.

Memory loss can be caused by a variety of things, but when you are dealing with memory loss caused by a stroke, you may have a more serious issue to attend to.

According to the National Stroke Association, strokes are the third leading cause of death in Americans, and can cause adult disabilities such as dementia. Strokes can be avoidable–they are typically caused by high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Other dietary causes may be salt intake and high fat intake. Smoking can also increase your risk for a stroke.

Strokes occur when an artery in your brain is blocked by a blood clot. This causes an interruption in the blood flow to the brain, and causes brain damage by causing brain cells to begin dying off. This, in turn, can affect numerous portions of your brain and your physical abilities, depending on the source of the blood clot in the brain. Your memory, speech or physical movements may be affected.

Strokes vary from person to person, but even small, less severe strokes, which can go unnoticed, can cause memory loss. Memory loss is typically a sign of a less severe stroke, and can sometimes be the first major symptom that friends and family members might pick up on. Dementia can sometimes occur in those who have suffered a stroke.

80% of strokes are preventable, so by living a healthy lifestyle and by eating a low fat, low sodium diet, you can help increase your chances of avoiding a stroke. By monitoring your blood pressure and cholesterol, you can take the steps to prevent strokes and protect yourself from any permanent damage that may result from one.
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Memory loss can be frustrating, especially when it has a sudden onset. One of the main causes for memory loss and amnesias is a traumatic head injury. When you suffer from a concussion or some sort of physical injury to the brain, you may experience sudden memory loss.

It may be either memory loss from your long-term memory or your short-term memory, and can be either permanent or temporary. When your brain swells from a physical injury, it can cause temporary memory loss, and the memory can return after the swelling has subsided. This is not always the case though, so any kind of physical injury to the head should be checked out immediately.

For those who suffer from hypercholesterolemia, statin drugs that help keep cholesterol at bay may cause sudden memory loss. This is typically temporary, and can be changed by using dietary nutritional intake to control cholesterol instead of statin drugs.

If you have an infection in the brain, you may experience sudden memory loss as well. It is important that brain infections be caught early on to ensure return of memory and proper medical treatment.
Strokes and epilepsy can also cause sudden memory loss. Some strokes, though small, may go unnoticed, but if you are experiencing sudden memory loss, it is definitely a reason for concern. A doctor can run some neurological tests to determine the exact cause of your sudden memory loss.

Sudden memory loss should not be taken lightly, and you should consider medical treatment if you are experiencing such memory lapses. This can be concerning, but if treated properly, permanent damage can be avoided.


Everyone suffers from memory lapses and forgetfulness from time to time. But when does it become serious, and when should you consider seeking medical attention for your memory loss?

The first thing people think of when they think of memory loss in older people is Alzheimer’s Disease. But you should never jump to conclusions, and by understanding what might be causing your memory loss, and the severeness of the memory loss, you can help inform your doctor of what exactly you are experiencing.

Understand that memory loss is a typical age-related issue. As you get older, it is typical to experience memory lapses, forgetfulness, and some short-term memory loss. But when you start forgetting words, names of family members, or long-term memories, it might be time to have some neurological testing done to find out what is causing your progressive memory loss.

It’s also a good idea to take a look at your lifestyle and any medications you may be taking. Sometimes, Vitamin B-12 deficiencies can cause temporary memory loss. This is because B-12 helps maintain red blood cells and nerve cells, keeping them healthy. Medications can have side effects that involve memory loss or lapses, and excessive alcohol intake can also cause some reversible memory loss.

And of course, it’s a good idea to rule out a traumatic head injury or a mental health disorder, such as depression or anxiety. These mental illnesses can also cause memory lapses, and it is important to rule this, and stress, out from your list of possible causes.

It’s important to see a doctor as soon as you start experiencing memory loss that is not quite normal for your age or lifestyle. Catching memory issues early on can help a doctor give better and more effective treatment for any illnesses or disorders that you may be experiencing.

There are many reasons why one would experience memory loss, but in some cases, the reason for the short-term memory loss can be due to the use of certain drugs.

Of course, recreational drugs, such as marijuana, LSD, cocaine, and PCP are all drugs that can cause memory loss, either temporary or permanent, and can lead to more severe cases of amnesia. If you have been using any of these drugs, you may be experiencing memory loss as a result of use. Alcohol, as well as the recreational drugs listed below, can significantly damage your cognitive abilities.

In addition to recreational drugs, there are numerous over-the-counter drugs that can cause memory loss. The list is extensive, and not all manufacturer’s list “memory loss” as a side effect of their medications, so it can be difficult to determine which over-the-counter medications cause memory loss and lapses in memory.

It is understood that statin drugs, which are used to help control hypercholesterolemia, can cause mild short-term memory loss, in addition to anti-anxiety drugs such as Xanax. In addition to Xanax and statin drugs, drugs such as Topamax, Vesanoid, Zyban, Lupron Depot, Copegus, Ambien and Klonopin.

Typically, over-the-counter medications that cause memory loss do not cause permanent damage. Once the use of over-the-counter medications is ceased, short-term memory generally comes back to its previous state before the drug was started. Understanding what drugs, either recreational or over-the-counter, cause memory loss as a side effect is a good way to fully understand that reasoning for your memory loss.

If a doctor determines that they need more information regarding your sudden or gradual increase in memory loss or lapses, they may determine that an MRI, or a Magnetic Resonance Imaging, test might be necessary.

In conjunction with a CAT scan, and MRI can provide helpful information to a doctor that is attempting to diagnose a mental disorder or a doctor that is trying to fully understand the reasoning behind a patient’s inability to maintain their short-term or long-term memory.

An MRI uses a powerful magnetic field and water molecules that produce an electromagnetic field when combined with a radio frequency transmitter. Certain photons produce a signal that the scanner can detect and use to create a 3D rendering of the scanned body part. Doctors may sometimes inject a contrast agent into the patient during the MRI in order to make certain blood vessels, inflamed areas and tumors appear brighter on the MRI scan for easier detection and diagnosis.

The difference between a CAT scan and an MRI is that an MRI doesn’t use any form of radiation as a CT scan does, which makes it a safer procedure. However, if a patient has any form of metal implanted in their body, or has certain implants such as a pacemaker for their heart or a cochlear implant, they are typically not allowed to participate in an MRI scan due to the powerful magnetism of the machine and equipment.

Whether your doctor prefers to have an MRI or a CT scan completed in order to diagnose a memory loss issue, either test will provide the doctor with the appropriate information needed to determine the reasons behind your sudden or gradual memory loss.

There have been many movies in Hollywood that focus on instances of amnesia. Some movies, in fact, use amnesia as the main plot device, such as the movie Memento, 50 First Dates, and Clean Slate. But amnesia can be defined in a few different ways.

The typical, or more well-known, form of amnesia is called retrograde amnesia. This is when after a specific event, someone has difficulty remembering past memories. For example, after a horrible car accident that causes a head injury, someone may have difficulty recalling memories from their childhood, or perhaps anything at all that happened before the accident. This means that their long-term memory has been altered. However, if they have problems remembering things that happen after the fact, and have difficulty with forgetfulness and bad short-term memory recollections, then they deal with what’s called anterograde amnesia.

Retrograde amnesia can be caused by a variety of reasons, but typically it is from an injury to the head. Some sort of trauma to the area of the brain that deals with storing long-term memories will cause retrograde amnesia. This form of amnesia can be either permanent or temporary. If caused by an injury, it can sometimes be temporarily caused by swelling around the brain due to the trauma, and after the swelling goes down, memory begins to return back to the patient. This is not always the case though, and there have been numerous cases where the damage is permanent and the information that was stored is lost forever with no chance of being recalled in the future.

You may notice that many things you learned in school used acronyms to help you remember them. And chances are many of them you may still recall to this day. For example, you may have had to remember the five Great Lakes in the United States. It is typical for people to remember them by using the acronym “HOMES”: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior. Many people go their entire lives remembering this acronym, while forgetting other things like important birthdays or events during their existence!

There are a few more, including Never Eat Sour Watermelons to remember the points on a compass (North, East, South, West—clockwise) or Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge for the lines of music notes—E, G, B, D, F.

You can even use acronyms to help you remember how to spell words. For example, you can use “A Rat in the House May Eat the Ice Cream” to remember how to spell “ARITHMETIC.” Words that are difficult to spell can easily utilize this trick to help you spell them—this is an excellent way to teach children how to study for difficult spelling tests in school—let them create a funny phrase in order to remember how to spell a certain word.

No matter what lists you are trying to remember, acronyms can be used to help you remember just about anything when used in a memorable way. Make a fun, silly sentence in order to make it memorable and usable for you when it comes to remembering the list. The crazier it is, the more likely you will remember it for future reference!

DMAE, which stands for dimethylethanolamine, is an organic compound that is used to enhance mental alertness and clear thinking. It is a supplement better known in Europe as the product “Deanol,” which has been used for decades to promote better cognitive functioning, lessen memory loss, and is even being used for skin health as well.

Studies have been done on the nutrient DMAE for some 60 years, and was shown especially helpful for those patients dealing with age-related memory loss and mental decline. It has been found, however, that those patients dealing with lessened cognitive function due to severe Alzheimer’s did not find DMAE to make much of an improvement in their memory deficits. DMAE has also been coined as an “anti-aging nutrient,” but this may be because of its benefits for those dealing with less severe mental decline related to normal aging.

In addition to providing the benefits of better mental function, alertness, and concentration, those who have used DMAE as a daily supplement do notice that they are more focused, in a better mood, and have a better sense of wellbeing overall, sometimes within hours of taking the supplement. It has also shown wonderful potential as an anti-wrinkly cream, due to the face that it also helps increase the firmness of the skin. DMAE may have a future in cosmetic dermatology due to its skin-firming abilities.

Side effects of DMAE may include high anxiety levels and restlessness, muscle stiffness, headache, and irritability and shakes that can be caused by overstimulation and high dosages. If taken later in the day, DMAE may also cause insomnia and sleep disruption, which is why it is highly recommended as a morning dietary supplement.

If you’re a visual learner, you may learn extremely well when dealing with material that you can visually see. Visual learners tend to be great spellers, but seem forgetful when it comes to things like remembering names or lists. They do, however, enjoy colors and fashion, learn best from charts and diagrams, and are typically quick to learn sign language as well, which shows that their brain processes information best when it is displayed to them.

Visual learners can employ a few different techniques when it comes to utilizing certain strategies in order to make things easier to memorize and remember, whether it be short-term or long-term information. When studying, visual learners can use flash cards, diagrams, and videos to remember materials. It’s a good idea for visual learners to highlight and mark words in the text that they are reading, to color code information such as their research notes or vocabulary words, and to make lists, outlines and maps to help them solidify information that they may be learning. This helps a visual learner see the information instead of just reading it and trying to comprehend it that way. A map, picture, diagram, or color-coded system works well for the visual learner.

Visual learners will always find it easier to remember information if they can see it. This is why videos, slideshows, photos, diagrams, charts, and other visual aids will assist a visual learner in remember and retaining information presented to them. Although not everyone is a visual learner, most people typically are, which is why the popularity of slide shows and videos in both the educational fields and the business arena have seen drastic growth—it is one way that most people can quickly remember and gather the information.