Memory loss can be a difficult problem to deal with. You may have problems remembering events that just occurred or have problems recalling details about your past. Depending on the cause of your memory loss, it may last temporarily or become permanent. MedlinePlus notes that cognitive therapy may help if you suffer from mild to moderate memory loss, but if your memory loss results from a nutritional deficit, you may consider vitamin therapy. One option is vitamin B-1 treatment. Before starting any vitamin treatments for memory loss, consult your doctor.
Reasons
Vitamin B-1 treatment may help with your memory loss if the problem stems from a deficiency in that vitamin. A deficiency in vitamin B-1, or thiamine, can result from a lack of the vitamin in your diet or a condition that affects how your body absorbs the vitamin. If you suffer from alcoholism, you may have a thiamine deficiency. MedlinePlus notes that between 30 and 80 percent of alcoholics have a deficiency in this B vitamin. A deficit in vitamin B-1 can result in memory loss through two conditions: beriberi and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. The early symptoms of beriberi include poor memory, as well as fatigue, irritability, sleep problems, weight loss, a loss of appetite and abdominal discomfort, according to the Merck Manual Home Edition. With dry beriberi, you develop other nervous system problems, such as changes in sensation. More severe memory loss can occur with Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which includes Wernicke's encephalopathy and Korsakoff psychosis. In Korsakoff psychosis, you experience problems remembering information, creating new memories and making up stories to compensate for the memory loss.
Administration
If your memory loss stems from a vitamin B-1 deficiency, your doctor may recommend that you take vitamin B-1 supplements. The Merck Manual Home Edition notes that you will usually get the vitamin B-1 supplement orally, though you may need an injection of the vitamin if you have severe symptoms. Oral versions of the vitamins include lozenges, soft gels and tablets. With Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, you may need larger doses of the vitamin injected into your muscles. MedlinePlus adds that if you have a vitamin B-1 deficiency and are at risk for Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, you may receive vitamin injections to reduce that risk.
Dosage
Your doctor will recommend the appropriate dose of vitamin B-1 for your memory loss depending on how severe your deficiency is. The recommended daily allowance for vitamin B-1 is 1.1 mg for women ages 19 and over, 1.4 mg for pregnant women and 1.2 mg for men ages 19 and over. If you have a mild deficiency, you may take between 5 to 30 mg a day for a month; if you have a severe deficiency, you may take up to 300 mg a day, according to MedlinePlus.
Considerations
While vitamin B-1 supplements may help with your memory loss, it may become less effective as the neurological damage becomes more severe. If you have progressed to Korsakoff psychosis, the supplements may not improve your memory symptoms, according to MedlinePlus.
