Our understanding of what causes memory loss is still evolving. Some memory loss is a normal part of aging. Conditions, factors or diseases thought to cause more serious memory loss include:
*Alcohol Abuse
*Alzheimer’s
*Dementia with Lewy Bodies
*Depression
*Frontotemporal Dementia
*General anesthetics or other factors during surgery
*Head injury
*Huntington’s disease
*Infections
*Lack of sleep
*Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
*Parkinson’s disease
*Poor nutrition
*Side effects of medicines
*Thyroid problems
*Vascular dementia or stroke.
Especially in older people, multiple causes and diseases may contribute to memory loss. In some cases, treating causes or contributing factors can improve memory.
Learn More:
Tangled Neuron Posts:
Surgery, Anesthesia and Memory Loss
Anticholinergic Medicines and Memory Loss
The Mediterranean Diet, Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's
Another Study Links Poor Diet and Alzheimer’s
Other Resources:
MedlinePlus general overview of memory loss
Alzheimer’s Society information on causes of dementia
Study summary: “Mixed brain pathologies account for most dementia cases in community-dwelling older persons”
International Study of Post-Operative Cognitive Dysfunction
Alzheimer’s Society Fact Sheet on Korsakoff’s Syndrome [alchohol-related memory loss]
Parkinson’s 101 from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
