The importance of brain health cannot be stressed enough since memory loss is one of the most common conditions affecting millions of individuals all over the world. At least 24 million people are believed to be living with some form of memory loss worldwide. While occasional forgetfulness is common, persistent and continuous memory loss can be a cause for concern. That is why it is important for you to find out if there is a cure for memory loss.
What is Memory Loss
Aging does not naturally cause extensive memory loss even though an elderly person finds difficulty in remembering as well as retaining new information. However, severe memory loss is characterized by consistent loss of things, forgetfulness in completing simple tasks, increased disorientation, increased confusion, lack of coherence, and poor judgment.
Memory loss may include dementia, amnesia, or mild cognitive impairment. In the case of mild cognitive impairment, patients experience forgetfulness but the symptoms are not very severe. Alzheimer’s disease is widely known for causing dementia and if the memory loss is extensive and disrupts normal relationships, social activities, and hobbies, it may be a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. With memory loss, there is a decline in intellectual functioning, and the patient may experience problems in communicating their messages properly. They may find it hard to recognize people and objects.
Treatment and Prevention of Memory Loss
Learning about brain health can help individuals in dealing with memory loss or other memory problems associated with aging. A healthy diet, regular exercise, adequate rest and the right supplements as well as many other natural ways that can help in avoiding cognitive decline. Life style changes such as:
- Exercising a few times a week
- Changing your routine
- Getting enough sleep (7-8) hours every night.
- Keeping your mind sharp by reading, doing puzzles and simply challenging your mind.
- Eating foods that are good for the brain (coconut oil, avocados, Omega 3 rich fish or a top notch Omega 3 Supplement
, and lots organic vegetables) are a good start.
Check out the video below by one of the most renowned Neurologists in the country– Dr. David Perlmutter talk about the importance of a ketogenic diet for brain health and other diseases:
What Causes Memory Loss?
In some cases, memory loss may be temporary and might be the result of a number of factors including alcohol abuse, use of illicit drugs or certain medications. Thyroid problems, Vitamin B12 deficiency, or dehydration among the elderly. Other factors that can cause memory loss include brain surgery, head trauma, seizures, some cancer treatments, and dementia, among others.
In cases of vascular dementia, several small strokes affect the brain, thereby causing memory loss.
In rare cases, individuals may experience a total loss of memory on a temporary basis, and this is called transient global amnesia. In other cases, the memory loss may be due to a trauma, and this may include Anterograde amnesia and Retrograde amnesia.
- In Anterograde amnesia, patients are unable to remember recent events following the trauma but can recollect past events.
- In Retrograde amnesia, patients are not able to remember events before the trauma but can recall incidents that took place after the trauma. Other causes for memory loss include Frontotemporal dementia (Pick’s disease), hydrocephalus, and depression.
References
http://www.helpguide.org/life/prevent_memory_loss.htm http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/003257.htm
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