Memory Loss Causes in Youth

Everyone has a short-term and long-term memory. Short-term memory stores information you have learned within the last few hours. Long-term memory holds thought processes and memories you keep for a long time. The process of long-term potentiation transfers short-term memories into long-term storage. Memory loss, also known as amnesia, can occur in young people for several different reasons. Depending on the cause of memory loss, loss of short-term, long-term, or both types of memory can occur.

Drug Abuse

• The use of certain types of drugs, mainly LSD, cocaine and PCP, causes memory loss in youth. Youths suffering from drug-induced memory loss can gain their memory back if they stop using. Use of these drugs cause youths to fall behind in school and have difficulty learning.

Traumatic Event

• A traumatic event, such as the death of a parent or a sexual assault, can have a deep emotional impact on a child as well as a significant impact on the brain. After a traumatic event, you can succumb to partial amnesia, in which you subconsciously block out the traumatic event and become unable to remember details concerning the trauma. Some survivors of traumatic events never remember the details as long as they live, while others eventually remember the event later on in life.

Head Trauma

• Head trauma, also called traumatic brain injury, induced by sports or an accident can cause memory loss in youth. Many survivors of an accident that caused head trauma suffer short-term memory loss and cannot recall the accident. Depending on the intensity of the damage to one's head, long-term memory loss can also occur.

Stress

• A little bit of stress is useful in providing motivation to get work done, but too much stress on a regular basis can harm your health. Under extremely stressful situations your brain releases a large amount a stress hormone called cortisone. This hormone has a negative effect on your hippocampus, the part of your brain responsible for converting short-term memories to long-term memories. If your hippocampus is harmed, you will have issues remembering events and creating new memories.

Vitamin B1 Deficiency

• Vitamin B1 deficiency, or Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, is a common cause of memory loss in youth. Malnourishment and alcoholism are the main causes of B1 deficiency. When not treated, this can lead to dementia and episodes of short-term and long-term memory loss.