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Memory Loss in Seniors

As you age, not only will you begin to loose brain cells, your body will manufacture less of the chemicals needed to make your remaining brain cells work. As a result you may start to lose your memory. Several different factors speed up this process in seniors. Some conditions have a medical remedy, while others will inevitably make the memory increasingly worse. Recognize the symptoms of memory loss and its cause.

  1. Alzheimer's Disease

    • Alzheimer's destroys brain cells, causing memory loss. The brain disorder develops over a period of years. Although the symptoms can appear to occur from normal aging, sufferers may also begin to exhibit changes in behavior and personality. The disease has no treatment, as of 2010, but a doctor can recommend treatments to help a sufferer deal with the symptoms. The drugs can inhibit the breakdown of the chemical messenger in the nerves that promotes learning and memory.

    Mild Cognitive Impairment

    • A senior with mild cognitive impairment may notice that his memory or mental function is failing. A person with the impairment may forget appointments and social events, start having trouble navigating familiar environments, may become more impulsive or exhibit poor judgment. In addition to memory loss, a person with MCI may also experience depression, irritability and aggression, anxiety and apathy. Although the impairment can increase a senior's risk of developing other types of dementia, some people may not continue to experience a decline in their memory and in some cases memory may improve. A doctor may occasionally prescribe Alzheimer's drugs to help with the memory loss.

    Mini Strokes

    • Mini strokes can cause reduction in the flow of blood to the brain. If blood flow stops for longer than a few seconds, the brain cells can die, causing damage to the cortex of the brain, resulting in memory loss. The condition, called vascular dementia, can occur gradually or suddenly, depending on the severity of the stroke or amount of strokes the senior has. The website, Help Guide, says that nearly 50 percent of the cases of vascular dementia result from hypertension (high blood pressure). See a doctor if you think you or someone you love has suffered a stroke. To lower the risk of this type of dementia, seniors should work to control their blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and avoid smoking cigarettes and overindulging in alcohol.

    Vitamin Deficiency

    • Lack absorption of vitamin B12 can cause the symptoms of dementia, which include memory loss in seniors. Dr. Majid Fotuhi of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine concludes that vitamin B12 deficiency accounts for up to 10 percent of non-Alzheimer's memory loss. A senior who consumes a diet with healthy amounts of B12 may not produce enough of the protein needed to absorb it. Dr. Fotuhi recommends a person who has low levels of the vitamin take supplements. Some seniors may need injections of the vitamin.

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