Memory loss may be caused by accident or injury, disease or be the result of having too much information stored. Some causes of memory loss are severe and tragic. Other causes may result in minor loss of memory that's just a matter of the way we feel or from the aging process.
Dementia
Dementia is characterized by the decline in a person's mental abilities, which includes loss of memory. Changes in personality and the inability to take care of one's self are other features of dementia, according to Patient UK, an information site provided by doctors and nurses. There are various types of dementia due to different illnesses that affect the thought process, usually in older people. Vascular dementia is caused by a series of small strokes, which can affect the brain and lead to memory loss. Alzheimer's disease is the cause in most cases of dementia. The disease shrinks the brain and nerve fibers in the brain. Brain chemicals are also reduced, which interferes with the sending of messages between brain cells. These reductions contribute to significant memory loss.
Mild Cognitive Impairment
A subtle increase in memory loss may be an indication of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The memory problems can significantly affect victims, but the symptoms are not as severe as those associated with Alzheimer's, according to the University of California, San Francisco. People with MCI may start to have difficulty remembering the names of people, maintaining a conversation due to forgetfulness or remembering where they placed items. However, the person with MCI is often aware of these difficulties and tries to compensate by writing messages or notes to help remember. He may be able to perform many activities without help. But his mild memory loss may interfere with planning or the ability to remember events and objects.
Amnesia
People with amnesia often lose memory in the areas of facts, information and experiences. They may have difficulty in learning new information. It doesn't usually cause a loss of self-identity, according to the Mayo Clinic. The loss of memory can be permanent. Amnesia may be caused by stroke, inflammation of the brain, lack of oxygen to the brain from such ailments as a heart attack or carbon monoxide poisoning, degenerative brain disease, tumors or long-term alcoholism. Head injuries from accidents may lead to temporary memory loss. Severe damage to the brain may cause permanent memory disorder.
Poor Concentration
Memory loss may affect some people who can't seem to concentrate because of boredom or fatigue, in which depression or anxiety may be an underlying cause. People with depression may suffer from bouts of memory loss because of their slower thinking and lack of concentration. Various illnesses can affect the way your brain functions and make you forgetful. Aging can result in poor concentration that causes memory loss. It doesn't mean you have a form of dementia if you become forgetful as you get older. It may be harder to take in more information as we get older, especially with all of the information the brain already has stored.
