Many medical conditions cause memory loss. Memory loss can be retrograde, meaning you don't remember what happened before a certain point, such as an accident or a stroke, or anterograde, meaning that you can't remember things that have recently happened or have difficulty forming new memories. Memory is a complicated process carried out in several different parts of the brain.
Alcoholism
Alcoholics have brain damage and memory loss caused by the death of brain cells from alcohol; alcoholic brain damage is often compounded by high ammonia levels related to liver failure from cirrhosis. Many alcoholics also develop thiamine deficiency, which leads to Korsakoff syndrome, damage to the area of the brain responsible for memory. People with Korsokoff syndrome make up stories to fill in blanks in their memory, have memory loss and an inability to form new memories, the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center explains.
Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is perhaps the best known medical condition related to memory loss. Forgetfulness typically associated with aging is not Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's destroys brain cells and leads to serious short-term memory loss. People with Alzheimer's may get lost easily, even in familiar places; forget names, faces and people they've known for years; have trouble finding words or mix up words; and forget how to do simple tasks such as balancing a checkbook, cooking or even getting dressed, the Mayo Clinic explains.
Brain Tumors
There are many types of brain tumors, and the area they affect determines what type of memory loss or damage might occur. Both benign and cancerous brain tumors can cause memory loss; what determines if memory is lost is the area of the brain that the tumor is damaging. Short- term memory is most likely to be lost, the American Brain Tumor Association states.
Stroke
Memory loss is common in people who have had a stroke. Stroke can damage the hippocampus, the pathway to memory storage in the brain, by blocking blood vessels that supply oxygen to the area, according to Rutgers University. An article written in 2006 by Albert Maud, M.D., in "Neurology" reported on a study that found that older people who had a stroke were more likely to develop dementia; severe memory loss is a large part of dementia.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injury can cause memory loss of the traumatic event, the events leading up to the injury and the post-injury period. Traumatic injury can also cause anterograde memory loss, which is related to damage to the hippocampus and the medical temporal lobes of the brain, according to Rutgers University.
