Reasons for Forgetfulness

Everyone is forgetful sometimes, and the symptom on its own is not necessarily a reason to panic, though it can also be indicative of a larger problem. Causes of forgetfulness can range from the minor, such as tiredness, to anxiety-related conditions and issues, such as being a new mother, to the severe, such as drug abuse, diseases and brain conditions.

Everyday Causes

• Forgetfulness does not automatically indicate a larger problem. Some of the everyday causes of forgetfulness include tiredness, concentration problems due to anxiety disorders, stress and sleep disorders, grieving/mourning and general anxiety. Forgetfulness can occur in pregnant women as well as new moms who are adjusting to taking care of a baby. Common causes of forgetfulness in older people include age-associated memory impairment, or memory and concentration abilities being reduced due to age.

Brain Conditions

• Brain conditions that affect memory include migraines, which can sometimes cause forgetfulness, and bacterial and fungal infections of the brain. Forgetfulness due to a brain tumor, stroke, AIDS (after acquiring a brain infection) and total intestinal aganglionosis (TIA), a form of mini stroke, is also common. Other brain conditions that cause forgetfulness include primary degenerative dementia, meningitis, brain injury and head trauma. Cerebrovascular accidents, conditions where the brain does not receive enough oxygen to function, are another cause of forgetfulness. Depression and depression disorders eventually affect the chemicals of the brain which can also result in memory problems.

Drug Use

• Chronic drug use can lead to forgetfulness. Memory problems are a symptom of alcohol abuse and chronic alcoholism, according to Wrong Diagnosis. Use of marijuana can result in short-term memory problems that last for several weeks, though addiction to harder drugs may also result in forgetfulness. Addiction to painkillers and prescription drugs or brain interaction with certain medications may also result in forgetfulness.

Diseases

• There are numerous diseases where forgetfulness is a symptom. These include Alzheimer's disease, as forgetfulness is an early symptom of this degenerative illness. As the condition worsens, memory loss becomes greater, often to the point where afflicted persons cannot recognize family members and close friends. Parkinson's disease, a neurological disease that destroys certain brain cells and affects motor function also includes progressive memory loss as part of the disease. Other diseases that may cause memory problems include sarcoidosis, an inflammation disease that can affect almost any area of the body.