Reasons for Memory Loss

Different parts of the brain hold different information. One part of the brain holds short-term memory such as what was for breakfast that morning, while another part of the brain holds the long-term memory. As a person ages, his brain cells are lost and not everything can be remembered. This is why seniors might have a hard time remembering things. Conditions other than old age also can increase the rate of memory loss.

Stress

• Many scientists believe that one of the results of too much stress is memory loss. Low levels of stress can actually help a person to memorize things. For example, if a student is stressed about a test, that can motivate him to learn the material. But when a person suffers a much higher level of stress, he might have a hard time remembering things. High stress even can damage the brain cells and the hippocampus, also making it hard to remember.

Dementia

• Dementia isn't a specific type of condition but rather a category of conditions. All dementia conditions affect the intellectual and social abilities and make it very difficult to function on a day-to-day basis. Memory loss is the most common symptom of dementia. Alzheimer's disease makes up half of all dementia cases. In Alzheimer's, a sticky buildup of amyloid plaques accumulates and is toxic to the brain cells. There are also neurofibrillary tangles, which means the long fibers contained in the brain cells get tangled and will not allow the proper protein to get to the brain cells.

Alcoholism

• One of the many dangers of alcohol is that consuming too much will damage brain cells. Some think that alcoholism starts to get serious when the alcoholic starts to have blackouts, but it is possible to start having short-term memory loss even before then. When blackouts begin, it is a sign that the brain damage is getting more severe.

Lyme Disease

• Lyme disease is a condition that is transmitted through a type of tick that most commonly feeds on deer but can also be found on mice, raccoons, opossums, squirrels, foxes and chipmunks. Lyme disease can be identified by a red rash where a person has been bitten by a tick. It can attack the nervous system and damage the brain, causing Bell's palsy, numbness and memory loss.

Head Truama

• If memory loss comes from the damaging of brain cells, then, of course, head trauma can lead to memory loss. Fortunately, most head trauma will cause only short-term memory loss. Concussions, brain contusions and skull fractures could all lead to the victim forgetting what happened before and after the trauma, but there is no permanent damage and there shouldn't be any old memories lost.