People can lose memory through brain trauma, or if they develop dementia or Alzheimer's disease as they age. Damage to the physical brain or in the way the brain functions can cause memory loss. As yet, there is no cure for most severe memory...
Consistent memory loss in an older person can signal a disease such as Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. It's tough on the individual who has the disease, but it's nearly as difficult for those who have to watch and support their loved ones...
When a loved one forgets how to do daily activities or has trouble learning new things, he may be experiencing memory loss due to Alzheimer's, dementia or the natural process of aging. Caring for a loved one with memory loss can be a challenge...
Vitamin B-12 plays a key role in red blood cell production, energy metabolism, hemoglobin synthesis, DNA synthesis and neurological function, according to the National Institutes of Health. Insufficient levels of vitamin B-12 may contribute to...
Weight loss or excess weight gain may cause short-term memory disturbances. Short-term memory, also known as working memory, holds a limited number of items in your brain accessible for up to 20 to 30 seconds, according to Robert Morris...
The United States Department of Labor (DOL) explains that addiction can be both physical and psychological. The key factors that identify addiction, according to the DOL, include the use of alcohol despite the harm it may cause to the individual,...
Drugs and alcohol may cause short-term memory problems in teenagers; however, in some cases, amnesia may also stem from a traumatic incident or the loss of a family member. Memory usually comes back over a period of time but the event that caused...
Good fat-free foods are unprocessed, have plenty of fiber and have vitamins and minerals. Bad fat-free foods can simply be full of sugar. Fat-free dairy products are excellent sources of calcium and protein. While fat-free foods generally have...
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...
There are a number of signs and symptoms that can signal stress in seniors. Stress can manifest in a number of emotional and physical ways, many of which can be lessened with awareness and proper planning. Knowing what to expect and making...
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an often-misunderstood illness. It is not just about losing your memory, Alzheimer's disease slowly overtakes your brain and its functions. Sufferers gradually lose their ability to learn, reason, make decisions,...
Eastern cultures have known the benefits of soy for thousands of years, and since 1999, western cultures have as well. In 1999, after exhaustive research, the FDA concluded that eating 25 grams of soy protein daily lowers cholesterol, prevents...
Electric shock is another name for the longer "electroconvulsive therapy," in which a patient is given a small electric shock to deliberately cause a short seizure in the person's brain. It has been used as therapy since the early 1930s. According...
Short-term memory is defined as working memory. For example recalling the name of someone you just met or a phone number you just heard are short-term memory at work, according to the Natural Therapy Clinic. Long-term memory is the opposite,...
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, while memory loss is one of the first symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, it can also be a symptom of brain trauma, a growth or infection in the brain, a reaction to medication and a myriad number...
Because Alzheimer's disease develops slowly, the symptoms often change or fluctuate with the different stages of the disorder over time. These changes can vary among people, but the problem continues to get worse and symptoms usually go from mild...
You may know sage as a spice and flavoring agent, but it has also been used medicinally for a wide range of ailments, ranging from gastrointestinal complaints to excessive sweating. Sage is now being studied for various conditions, including...
As the population ages and neurobiology advances, many people are turning to brain exercises to keep their mental abilities intact. Brain-stimulating activities like crossword puzzles and memory games strengthen connections between neurons and...
Caffeine is the central nervous stimulant commonly found in beverages such as tea, coffee and soft drinks, as well as some over-the-counter medications. The drug has general stimulatory effects on your body but is not generally thought of to...
In epilepsy, abnormal electrical activity in the brain causes seizures, according to the Mayo Clinic. The diagnosis of epilepsy is given when there are two or more seizures; epilepsy can be treated with medication or with surgical procedures. All...
The adrenal glands are two small glands that reside above the kidneys. These glands secrete more than 50 hormones including testosterone and estrogen. Adrenal fatigue is a condition wherein the adrenals are not working optimally, even when at rest...
Like the body, the brain can become out of shape and lethargic; you can lose memory function through inactivity. Many have used the term "use it or lose it" to describe brain function; research appears to support that notion. It is critically...
People rely on memory to do everyday tasks. Damage to the brain or emotional trauma can result in memory loss, also called amnesia. The memory loss may be temporary, as from electroconvulsive therapy, or permanent, as from traumatic brain injury....
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...
It's a new year, time to get organized and learn some strategies for getting rid of things you don't want or need. Clearing clutter from your home or office doesn't have to be a chore. It does, however, require some energy. This can be...
Alcoholism can have major effects on the people who must interact with the alcoholic. The alcoholic has a dependency that adversely affects behavior and social functioning. It also negatively effects the body, increasing the risk of having a...
Imagine losing your memories, your identity and recognition of your closest friends and family. Those with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are unable to recover memories because of degeneration of neurons in the brain. AD is a non-lethal chronic disease...
Dumb Reasons to Start Drinking When parents and teachers warn you about the effects of drinking, they usually give you some dull statistics that don't really mean a heck of a lot to you. After all, they are just numbers and don't seem very...
The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that up to 4.1 percent of American adults are affected by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a mental illness characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsive...