Memory is defined as the ability to store and then recall information, such as knowledge or experiences. Short-term memory is a subset of the overall memory and involves information that can be accessed for only a few minutes. According to The Memory Loss Project at Rutgers University, people have a limited capacity to store short-term memories, usually only about five to nine items. The loss of short-term memory is a sign of brain injury.
Stroke
A stroke occurs when the blood that feeds the brain is interrupted, either by a clot in an artery or through an artery that breaks. When blood is interrupted by a clot it is referred to as an ischemic stroke. A blood vessel that bursts causes a hemorrhagic stroke. In either case, oxygen necessary for brain function is unavailable, so brain cells become damaged and die. If a stroke occurs and makes blood and oxygen unavailable to particular parts of the brain, a patient may lose the ability to access short-term memory, and can have difficulty planning and carrying out simple activities, according to the American Stroke Association.
Tumors
A brain tumor may grow for a long period of time before symptoms occur. Symptoms are noticed when the tumor produces enough pressure on brain tissue or affects the brain in such a way that function is modified. This can occur suddenly in some cases. Headaches are typically the first symptom that brain tumor sufferers experience, but short-term memory loss is one of the many mental changes that can occur due to a brain tumor, according to the American Brain Tumor Association.
Head Injury
According to the Traumatic Brain Injury Survival Guide, short-term memory loss is a universal problem with patients who experience traumatic brain injury. It varies in degree from one patient to the other, but virtually every patient experiences some form of short-term memory loss. A traumatic brain injury can occur in a car accident, sports injury or a fall, and may leads to swelling and injury to brain tissue.
Drug Abuse
Many different substances can lead to short-term memory loss. Drugs such as barbiturates, marijuana, methamphetamine and inhalants all have the potential to affect memory, according to The National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Emotional Distress
It is common for those who experience some severe emotional distress to experience short-term memory loss, according to according to the Traumatic Brain Injury Survival Guide. This is usually described as a state of confusion in conjunction with some extremely stressful event.
