Memory loss and forgetfulness

When to worry about memory loss? Chronic alcoholism can seriously impair mental abilities. What causes memory loss? Alcohol can also cause memory loss by interacting with medications.

Vitamin B-deficiency. Learn how to tell the difference between normal age-related memory loss and signs of a more serious problem like mild cognitive impairment or dementia.

Sometimes, forgetfulness is caused by a treatable health condition. If the forgetfulness and confusion persists or recurs, seek medical evaluation. Can headaches cause forgetfulness ? No, headaches themselves do not commonly cause memory loss.

A headache and memory loss can be signs indicating a stroke. But how much forgetfulness is too much? How can you tell whether your memory lapses are normal forgetfulness and within the scope of normal aging or are a symptom of something more serious? Healthy people can experience memory loss or memory distortion at any age.

At a certain age, you might start to wonder if memory loss is just a part of growing old or something more serious.

WebMD helps you understand the difference between being forgetful and the. Never fear – when you can pinpoint the underlying cause of your brain fog and memory loss , there is something you can do about it. If memory lapses are bugging you, it’s worth a conversation with your doctor to see if any reversible causes are at the root of the problem.

Something like getting more sleep, switching a medication, or a stress reduction program could get your memory back on track. People with memory loss are at greater risk for stroke. And forgetfulness may be an early warning sign of stroke , found a study published in the journal Stroke. Thyroid problems can cause memory problems such as forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating. Medication can reverse the symptoms.

Excessive alcohol intake is toxic to brain cells, and alcohol abuse leads to memory loss. Over time, alcohol abuse may also increase the risk of dementia. Here are several common factors that can affect your memory : Lack of sleep. Not getting enough sleep is a major factor of memory loss and forgetfulness. You should aim for at six to eight hours of quality sleep each night for your best memory function.

A geriatrician explains when memory loss is a cause for concern. And mild forgetfulness is particularly vicious because it can creep up on you. In fact, it could be biting up parts of your brain as we speak. But it’s not the same as memory loss, which is what we really need to focus on curing.

Most people will suffer from minor short-term memory loss , such as misplacing car keys or forgetting to lock their car doors, at some point in their lives.

However, when fatigue and short-term memory loss become a chronic or recurring problem, a consultation with a physician may be necessary to determine an underlying cause. In most cases, these episodes of forgetfulness reflect either normal age-related memory loss , sleep deprivation, or stress. Forgetfulness is a potential side effect of certain medications. WebMD Symptom Checker helps you find the most common medical conditions indicated by the symptoms memory problems and shaking hands or tremor including Benign essential tremor, Parkinson disease, and Depression (Adult).

There are conditions associated with memory problems and shaking hands or tremor. Memory problems and Shaking hands or tremor.