Inadequate sleep, stress, depression, physical injuries and the medications prescribed to treat the conditions may inhibit memory function. Although certain drugs can impair memory directly, memory loss may also develop as a side effect of the symptoms caused by specific medications. Memory loss that occurs as a result of medications can usually be remedied by discontinuing the drug in question. It is important to contact the prescribing physician at the first sign of memory loss.
Statin Drugs
Cholesterol-lowering drugs, or statins, are generally accepted as an effective way to lower LDL--the bad cholesterol--and significantly prevent the onset of heart disease in the aging population. Statin drugs may reduce the risk of developing dementia, notes MayoClinic.com. However, other evidence suggests statin drugs do not prevent memory loss and in some instances may adversely affect cognitive function. Researcher Bernadette McGuinness suggests one explanation for the contradictory findings is that people who develop memory problems may forget to take their statin medication and subsequently be excluded from study results, according to Science Daily.
Sedatives
Zolpidem, brand name Ambien, is a commonly prescribed sleep medication that helps treat short-term insomnia. Although uncommon, sleepwalking, amnesia and short-term memory loss are side effects frequently associated with the sedative. According to the manufacturer, it is important to avoid taking the drug during waking hours and to allot an adequate amount of time for a full night's sleep. The side effects associated with Ambien are more like to occur when the sedative is prescribed in concert with an antidepressant, according to the World Health Organization.
Alcohol Abuse
Short-term memory loss is a frequent side effect of excessive alcohol consumption, according to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. When excessive amounts of alcohol are consumed rapidly, the ability to transfer the memory of an event or activity from short-term to long-term memory is affected. Alcohol affects the ability of the hippocampus, the brain's memory center, to form new memories and inhibits communication between other neural structures. The effect of alcohol on memory loss is detectable following consumption of just one or two drinks.
