Memory loss

definition

Under a memory loss, technically known as amnesia (Greek for memory loss), one understands a memory disorder in which memories seem to be erased from memory. It is more likely an inability to retrieve memory content. Furthermore, memory loss can also mean that it is not possible for the person concerned to learn new things and to save thoughts.

to form

There are different forms of memory loss. Depending on the time of the memory loss, you can either divide it into one retrograde, so a retrospective, or in a anterogradeAmnesia, ahead of time (in the future).
In the retrograde amnesia if the memory content is lost before the damaging event, e.g. after an accident, you can no longer remember the exact course of the accident.
A anterograde amnesia on the other hand, if you can no longer remember new content after the triggering event, e.g. forgets what happened immediately after the accident.
If both forms occur side by side, one speaks of one transient global amnesia, in which there is a temporary loss of both old and new thoughts to be saved.
There is also a special form congrade amnesiawhich just lacks the ability to remember the actual cause. Furthermore, a infantile (=childlike) Amnesia described, i.e. that as an adult one can no longer remember the first years of life.
Under the dissociative amnesia one understands, however, the loss of memory of particularly severe psychological stress.

Sudden loss of memory

A particularly drastic form of amnesia is when someone from complete consciousness suddenly loses his memory, i.e. there is a sudden loss of memory. In technical terminology, this is known as “Transient global amnesia"(See above) known. This means that just as quickly as the memory loss occurred, it usually disappears again within a day (transient = temporarily).
The affected person has a lack of ability to remember anything during this time, so short-term memory is most limited. The same questions are asked over and over again, e.g. about the room and the situation, as the answers will be forgotten after a short time. However, long-term memory disorders can also occur, so that a permanent memory gap can still remain after the symptoms have disappeared. Abilities are not influenced by complex automated processes, as is the orientation towards the person. Accompanying neurological deficits such as language disorders or symptoms of paralysis usually do not occur.
The exact cause is unknown, but acute emotional or physical stress is discussed as a possible trigger. In retrospect, imaging procedures showed a change or insufficient supply of areas in the brain that play an important role in learning processes, such as the so-called hippocampus.
Sudden memory loss mainly affects people between the ages of 50 and 70, and it is mostly a one-off event. This sudden loss of memory may be very worrying for the person and family members, but there is usually good memory recovery and no long-term sequelae.

Short term memory loss

In the case of a loss of short-term memory, similar to a sudden loss of memory, the storage of new memory contents is restricted. The person concerned can therefore not remember things for longer than about 3 minutes. Therefore, the same questions about the situation, place and space are asked over and over again, e.g. "Why did I come here now?" "Where did I put the item?" Even if these questions are answered, the answers are soon forgotten and the same questions are repeated.
This time may be very tormenting for the person concerned, but the symptoms usually go away within the next 24 hours and there is a complete recovery. Therefore, even with this form, a transient global amnesia spoken, for the symptoms do not last forever but are temporary. Memories of courses of action such as driving or walking are not restricted.

Read more on the subject at: Short term memory

causes

There are several causes that can trigger memory loss. This usually occurs as a result of some kind of damage to the brain, in which nerve cells also perish or brain regions are affected that are responsible for learning and thinking processes. For example, an accident or fall can lead to memory loss, as it can lead to serious injuries to the head or skull and thus also to the brain. This is often accompanied by a loss of consciousness or a comatose state.
In general, if the brain is insufficiently supplied with oxygen and nutrients, there is a loss of nerve cells that is partially irreversible. The longer this undersupply lasts, the more serious the subsequent consequences. In addition to a traumatic brain injury, dementia, meningitis, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or an epileptic seizure can cause memory content to be lost. Because with all of these diseases there is a loss of brain structure, which, depending on the cause, progresses rapidly or slowly. Although the exact connection between damage in the brain and the exact effect on learning and thinking processes is still unclear, one can often observe a disturbance in attention and concentration.
Other possible triggers are poisoning with various substances that can get from the blood into the brain, such as medication, drugs or alcohol. In addition, there are serious psychological stresses that can lead to a loss of memories of these particularly stressful moments in order to protect the person concerned.

Loss of memory after an accident / fall

A serious accident can cause serious injuries to several organs and the brain. An overall severe blood loss can cause circulatory failure and shock. This leads to an undersupply of brain tissue with subsequent loss of nerve cells. However, the trauma itself can also lead directly to damage to the head, e.g. Strong acceleration and deceleration processes or an impact on the head can result in a concussion or even bleeding in the brain. The relationship between the brain injury and the extent of memory loss is unclear. However, there is a disruption of those brain functions that are responsible for transferring information to long-term memory, or there is a failure to retrieve stored information.
For example, the person concerned forgets what happened when the accident happened and, at the same time, often for a short time afterwards. Only over the years do some have individual memories. Furthermore, a fall can have serious consequences, especially for older people. The impact can cause the brain to jerk against the skull bone, which can lead to a concussion with brief loss of consciousness. The unconsciousness often lasts only a few seconds and is accompanied by nausea, vomiting and a memory gap.

You can also read our articles about this Traumatic brain injury and Concussion.

Memory loss due to depression

Mental illnesses such as depression can lead to memory problems. In addition to a depressed mood, listlessness, disinterest and an inability to feel joy, depression also leads to concentration and sleep disorders. This can also explain that, for example, thinking processes can be blocked or made more difficult due to tiredness or reduced attention. Especially in older people, for whom one immediately thinks of dementia as the cause of a deteriorating memory performance, it can just as well be an old-age depression.

Read more on the subject below Symptoms of depression.

Memory loss from alcohol

Rapid consumption of large amounts of alcohol carries the risk of a so-called film tear later occurring, so that the person concerned e.g. Can't remember details of the previous evening after waking up the next morning. Because alcohol affects so-called GABA receptors the attention and learning processes. These receptors are jointly responsible for regulating memory processes. The effect of alcohol differs from person to person, so one has memory gaps earlier in the other only later after large amounts of alcohol. In general, however, drinking large amounts of alcohol quickly and frequently over a short period of time leads to a blackout later.
In addition, chronic alcohol consumption is harmful to memory processes. In fact, alcoholics often suffer from malnutrition, as their energy needs are mainly met through alcohol consumption. This leads to a so-called Korsakoff syndrome, a vitamin B1 deficiency. Vitamin B1, known as thiamine, controls various processes in the human body, including in nerve cells. Therefore, an insufficient supply leads to the destruction of important brain structures, such as the so-called Mammalian body. These are part of the limbic systemwhich fulfills an important role in learning and thinking processes, especially for saving new memory contents.

Please also read our topic Consequences of alcohol.

Memory loss due to high blood pressure

It is well known that high blood pressure has many sequelae. Since this often occurs with diabetes or a lipid metabolism disorder, the risk of pathological changes in small and large blood vessels is increased. So it comes with time arteriosclerosisi.e. calcification of the arteries. In the brain, the insufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients can lead to memory disorders through narrowed small vessels. For example, there is a so-called vascular (= vascular) dementia. Typical symptoms here are, in addition to a change in personality, disorientation and language disorders, memory disorders, above all. There are difficulties in memorizing new things, deteriorating judgment and problems with everyday activities because certain devices can no longer be operated.

Memory loss due to stress

Emotional or physical stress has many effects. For example, severe psychological distress may increase the likelihood of sudden memory loss or psychologically-induced amnesia, today as dissociative amnesia called, increase. This means the forgetting of severe traumatic experiences. The brain, so to speak, blocks this content or the retrieval of these memories in order to protect the patient from the enormous psychological stress caused by the processing. In addition, chronic stress with permanently elevated levels of stress hormones such as cortisone can damage the brain.

Read more on the subject below Symptoms of stress.

Memory loss after a stroke

A stroke leads to different symptoms and consequential damage, depending on which brain region is affected. This means that various memory functions can be restricted. For example, a stroke in the left temporal lobe leads to a reduced memory of factual knowledge. Because this is where the so-called semantic Memory, if lost e.g. everyday words can no longer be understood. If the right hemisphere is affected, the affected person loses his so-called episodic Memory, i.e. one no longer remembers personal events, such as on the last birthday. The consequences are often temporary and can improve over time. However, it is crucial to carry out a rehab in which the other symptoms are also treated.

Read more on the subject below Signs of a stroke.

Memory loss after anesthesia / surgery

The anesthesia required during an operation can cause memory loss. In the context of an operation, this is even a desired effect of the anesthetic, so that the patient no longer remembers the operation and thus the pain that occurred during the procedure. On the one hand, the anesthetics block the transmission of pain, on the other hand, the consciousness is switched off. The drugs used cause certain receptors, so-called GABA receptors, to be influenced. This hinders the storage of new information in long-term memory and at the same time leads to a temporary loss of consciousness.
This influence is usually only found during the active time of the drug and disappears after the drug has been broken down and excreted, so that usually no subsequent effects on memory function need to be feared. However, in addition to the anesthetics, the operation itself can also trigger a memory gap, especially if surgery on the brain is required.

Read more on the topic Aftermath of anesthesia.

Memory loss after leukemia

If a stem cell or bone marrow transplant is performed as a therapy for leukemia, this can lead to limitations in mental performance. The exact effects on memory performance are not known, but some studies have e.g. Changes in concentration and memory as well as attention were observed. These occurred more frequently if complications occurred during therapy. Radiation therapy of the head or local chemotherapy of the spinal cord were also risk factors.

Read more on the subject below Bone marrow donation.

Memory loss in Parkinson's

Memory disorders do not occur in every person with Parkinson's disease, but some do. The more advanced the disease, the more likely it is that memory loss or other signs of dementia can occur. It affects about a quarter of Parkinson's patients. Typical symptoms of Parkinson's dementia are attention deficit, slowed thinking, personality changes, depression and memory disorders. Above all, the retrieval of new information is more difficult, but the learning process itself is usually not restricted. Furthermore, the drugs used in Parkinson's disease can make dementia worse, making Parkinson's disease therapy difficult.

For more information on this topic, see Symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Memory loss in epilepsy

An epileptic seizure causes the person affected to no longer remember the time during the seizure and shortly before it. So you have a memory loss for this past period of time, so it is a retrograde Amnesia.
Elderly people should also consider epilepsy if they have memory problems. Because here atypical symptoms such as short-term clouding of consciousness, language disorders, confusion or a temporary memory loss can also indicate epilepsy, so that it does not necessarily have to lead to a typical seizure.

For more information on this topic, see Symptoms of epilepsy.

Memory loss after a heart attack

A heart attack can lead to cardiovascular arrest. This leads to a lack of oxygen in all organs and in the brain. If there is an insufficient supply in the brain for a long period of time, the likelihood of brain damage is higher because nerve cells die. This can also limit memory performance. About half of all patients suffer from memory loss after a heart attack.

Read more about this under Consequences of a heart attack.

diagnosis

For the diagnosis and the exact recording of a memory loss, the doctor-patient conversation at the beginning of an examination is essential (so-called. anamnese). Therefore, the doctor will ask about the duration, accompanying illnesses, medication and accompanying circumstances. Observations by relatives are often important. If memory is lost in the course of an accident or fall, an imaging procedure is often initiated in the acute stage, with the help of which damage to the brain and its extent can be shown. A CT examination is usually used here.
Often the brain waves are measured later by means of EEG (electroencephalography), with which epilepsy can be proven as a possible cause. Standardized neuropsychological test procedures and questionnaires are used to determine the extent of the memory gap.

Concomitant symptoms

A distinction is made between various accompanying symptoms depending on the cause. These are either already present at the time of memory loss, exist due to the underlying disease or arise afterwards due to the stress of the memory gap. As a result of an accident, it is not uncommon for many other damages and complaints, such as Broken bones or injuries to internal organs or massive blood loss or shock.
Severe memory loss concussions are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and headaches. In retrospect, there is confusion and a lack of orientation to the respective situation. (see also Concussion)

If the epilepsy is the cause, symptoms of the seizure are typically observed with loss of body control, twitching, involuntary movements, and loss of consciousness. The person concerned no longer remembers the attack and the time shortly before it.

In dementia diseases such as Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease, in addition to memory losses, concentration disorders and orientation and attention problems occur in addition to the symptoms typical of the disease. In addition, the memory gaps can put such a psychological strain on those affected that one can observe a depressed, depressed mood.
Read more about this under Signs of dementia.

therapy

The therapy for memory loss depends on the cause. If an underlying disease such as epilepsy, dementia, brain inflammation or a stroke leads to the memory disorders, these should be treated accordingly. At the same time, however, the psychological stress caused by the gaps in memory should be considered and, in severe cases, treated with psychotherapy. Probably the most important and most effective therapeutic measure is the neuropsychological component. Here, the affected person is taught various learning strategies in intensive training that can be used to improve memory performance.
The use of external memory aids is also recommended to make everyday life easier for the patient. This means that you can e.g. noted important things on a sticky note or on the smartphone so that they are not forgotten.
Finally, memory performance can be influenced by certain drugs. However, the use should be weighed up individually depending on the case and decided with a specialist, because a positive influence has only been investigated for memory loss due to a traumatic brain injury. So become means like Donepezil or methylphenidate (Ritalin®) is recommended "off-label." This means that these drugs are actually used for other diseases.
Furthermore, Rivastigmine or Physostigmine used, both of which increase the concentration of the neurotransmitter (substances that transmit signals in the nervous system) acetylcholine.

Medication for memory loss

The use of the most diverse advertised means for improving brain performance should be carefully considered before deciding on a preparation. It is important to seek advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Of course, a drug alone can never bring the brain back to peak performance. Therefore, in addition to medication therapy, you should always try to train your memory through various learning techniques and exercises. Even movement is very beneficial for brain performance.
There are preparations that are used in Alzheimer's dementia and that can improve cognitive functions and delay the decline in mental performance. These are so-called Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, these prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, an important messenger substance for information processing in nerve cells. Medicines in this group are for example donepezil (Aricept®), galantamine (Reminyl®) and rivastigmine (Exelon®).
There are also ginkgo preparations that have a different mode of action. Ginkgo is a herbal preparation that improves the flow properties of the blood and thus the cerebral blood flow. This can increase memory performance and learning ability. One can enumerate innumerable other means which are advertised. However, a decision should always be made individually and better under specialist advice, because every drug can have interactions and side effects.

Please also read our article on this Drugs for dementia.

Duration

Depending on the type of amnesia, the duration of the memory impairment varies. With temporary memory loss, symptoms usually go away within a few hours and do not last longer than a day.
However, if it is e.g. around a retrograde Amnesia after an accident, in which, for example, one no longer remembers the course of the accident, only after some time, if at all, do fractured memories of the event arise.
In the case of various forms of dementia, however, the memory disorders can increase as the disease progresses, because the brain volume also decreases with age.

forecast

Depending on the trigger, the prognosis also differs. Although the extent of brain damage does not always clearly correlate with memory loss, this is more favorable when the cause is clear and can be treated well. If e.g. If epilepsy or cranial nerve inflammation is detected and treated promptly, there is less risk of permanent damage.
Immediate therapy is crucial, especially in the case of a traumatic brain injury with loss of consciousness and accompanying symptoms, as every lost minute with insufficient supply of the brain can cause more damage. In retrospect, the lost memory performance can be positively influenced by targeted training of the short-term memory and the renewed activation of the long-term memory. Some even manage to regain the erased memory over time. However, this can take several years.

Read more on the subject here: Long-term memory