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Memory Loss
What Causes Short Term Memory And Long Term Memory Loss? Submitted By: Steve Madigan Memory loss or amnesia is an uncommon forgetfulness that can happen due to brain damage. Illness, injury or extreme mental distress can be the causes of this brain damage. Memory loss can be grouped using many criteria. Loss of memory can be classified into permanent and temporary memory loss on the basis of the time span of the memory loss. Memory loss is also sorted into short-term memory loss or long-term memory loss depending on the nature of the memory that gets affected. Memory loss can occur almost suddenly and can also take shape over a long period of time. What causes memory loss? All of them are caused due to specific reasons. Long-term memory (LTM) is memory that is stored as meaning. It may remain for ages. It may also be very short lived, say, for only 30 seconds. Long-term memory (LTM) is functionally and structurally different from working memory or short-term memory. Working memory or short-term memory apparently retains information for only 30 seconds or so. Biologically, short-term memory is a short-lived potentiation of neural connections. By meaningfully correlating them and through rehearsals, short-term memory can become long-term memory. It is thought that by the long lasting enhancement of the neural connections short-term memories are stored as LTM. The structure of neurons undergoes a physical change due to this. But the time required at each step of this memory processing is still being studied. Tarnow's theory says that long-term memories are retained in dream format. This is similar to the discoveries of Penfield & Rasmussen which says that electrical excitations of cortex result in experiences resembling dreams. It is important to find out what short-term memory is. Scientists are investigating the brain and its functioning. We are getting to know how the brain processes and stores memory. We are also learning about ways to enhance these processes. So what is short-term memory? The memory function in the brain which acutely stores and processes events, images, data is known as short-term memory. It is a kind of place for storage in our brain so that it can be decided whether these memories are to be used promptly and/or reserve them to long -term storage. Short-term memory functions as a filter as well as a workplace for the things we are processing. It is much easier to access and utilize information from short-term memory than long-term memory. What causes short-term memory and long term memory loss? • Ageing In these cases support from family members should be made available. The patient must be familiarized with reality by providing familiar music, objects, or photos. Some cases might need assistance for relearning. Medication schedules should be written down so that there is no burden on memorizing. Extensive amenities for care and treatment like nursing homes are a worthwhile consideration. They are more needed for patients whose basic needs cannot be dealt in any other way and whose safety and nutrition are at a risk. What causes short-term memory loss after naps? The rates of sensing of all the sensors are brought down while sleeping. The stimulation margins are increased at this time. This allows the process of transferring information to continue without any disturbance. Only if some danger occurs or a threat signal is received this process might be interrupted. Thus information from the sensors/surroundings is not received at this time. This allows the working memory to perform the transfer of data. It is similar to a sort of housekeeping. The working memory redeems information from the temporary memory. Then it compares this redeemed information with similar files stored earlier in the long-term memory. If any undesirable, duplicate or overlapping data is found it is deleted. The data that is considered to be relevant, new or updated is encoded and put into long-term memory. The temporary memory stays in a state of only retrieving information at this time. Hence any brain activities like dreams are not imprinted on to the temporary memory. The short-term/working memory store is the only memory store that can record brain activities consciously in this time period. About the Author
Article Source: www.isnare.com Back to Top Causes Of Memory Loss Submitted By: Gregory Frost Memory loss may begin innocently by forgetting your house keys or being unable to remember someone’s name. Fortunately, memory loss is not inevitable and can be circumvented by taking certain preventive measures. The first step to protecting yourself against the possibility of getting memory loss is to identifying the possible causes of memory loss. Some common causes of memory loss include old age, trauma, smoking, alcohol abuse and medical conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. Stress It is much more tiring and difficult to recall or learn something when you are feeling stressed, tired, anxious or angry – symptoms of overworking your mind. The human body has been built to protect itself, and this could be one of the possible causes of memory loss as your mind is handling more than enough already. In order to deal with this, make an effort to give yourself a break. You will find that you are able to remember more easily when your mind is alert and well-rested. Instead of cramming everything to the last minute, do your work slowly, some at a time and it would allow your brain to have the sufficient rest to remember better. This allows you to pay greater attention and commit more to memory. Healthy stress will provide you with a challenge, whilst unhealthy stress can make learning more difficult. Working under stress is a cause of memory loss as your mind has too many things to cope with, and may not be a symptom of dementia. For pregnant women experiencing stress, the child may face learning difficulties and shrink part of the mind that is related to memory. Amnesia Amnesia occurs when one’s memory is affected, due to either organic or functional causes. Brain damage through physical trauma or diseases is a common organic cause, whilst functional causes include psychological elements such as the body’s defense mechanisms. Traumatic amnesia occurs due to head injuries, and the period of memory loss is related to the degree of injury. Psychogenic amnesia, an example of a functional cause of amnesia, is an adaptive response that enables children to survive by repressing memories, thus maintaining an attachment to someone that has abused them. They would erase out the painful memories out of extreme sorrow and hurt in an attempt to protect themselves from being hurt even more. Dementia Dementia is a cause of memory loss due to old age. Depending on the extent of dementia, it may be reversible if it has not reached an advanced stage. Common identifiers of dementia include a change in the character of the person suffering from it, and some experience delirium as well. Dementia can be detected and cured through regular blood tests which identify cues which can be corrected to doctors, through the prescription of folic acid, calcium, vitamin B12 etc. Money will be spent and forgotten, but memories do not just come and go that easily, they live on. Above mentioned are some of the causes of memory loss, and by pursuing a healthy lifestyle you can circumvent memory loss. Take steps to ensure that your memories are preserved! About the Author
Article Source: www.isnare.com Back to Top Memory Loss: What Is Usual And What Is Not Submitted By: Barney Garcia According to the psychologists, we tend to forget the things that we actually want to forget. But this is not always the case. Sometimes we can not remember things that we ought to. Like the other day I was not being able to recall where I placed the duplicate key of the house. With clenched teeth and closed eyes I desperately kept on searching in my mind where I could possibly placed it for the utmost safekeeping when my younger daughter accidentally bumped on it behind a volume of Encyclopedia Britannica on the book shelf. And it was inevitably followed by a roll of laughter and joking comments on my poor ability to remember the mundane things. Forgetfulness is often viewed in the light of fun in the movies, in the story books and in our social interactions. But it may not always be as innocent as you think it to be. Little incidences involving forgetfulness which we shake off by laughing over it may actually be the indication of some complex problems of loss of memory. So you should no longer neglect this problem if you feel it is taking a serious turn and address it adequately to know whether there is any disorder taking place in your brain. Here are some information that may help you to understand the relation between our brain and memory. Our brain has this amazing ability to store information in different parts of our memory. Memory can be classified into short term, long term or recent memories. The brain can store the information for a long time. As for instance just dive down into the remote memory lane and you are sure to find out the pieces of pictures associated with your childhood days. Now as you progress in your age, the pattern of information storage of your brain also starts changing and it gradually becomes more difficult to recall stored information. As you reach the age of twenty, your brain starts to lose some of its cells and the body also does not produce the chemicals needed for brain work in the same amount as before. These changes affect the ways how you remember the things and the older you are, the more they affect your memory. While the short-term and remote memories remain unaffected by aging, recent memories may sometime betray you. As for example, at certain age we often tend to forget names of people we've met recently. Well, do not get panicked, these are only normal changes. However, there may be some other causes than aging that may cause memory loss and they include depression, brain injury, effects of alcohol, illnesses, dementia, Alzheimer's disease and side effects of drugs. So how do you differentiate between a normal memory loss and serious one? Well, memory loss may be the cause of alarm when it significantly disrupts your daily life. Forgetting names or words are just fine, but you should take alarm if you forget such things as a recipe that you have tried many a times before, or can not recall how to get to a place that you frequently visit and so on. Remember, serious problems related to memory loss get worse over a short time. So if you feel, you are suffering from some memory related problems that are not usual, see a doctor immediately. About the Author
Article Source: www.isnare.com Back to Top Memory Loss - Forgetfulness Submitted By: Barney Garcia This article will outline some of the major causes of memory loss, then will further explain each of the major causes briefly. Memory loss or forgetfulness is caused by brain damage due to injury to the brain or any disease that causes damage to the brain. It can also be caused by sudden emotional trauma. The other names for memory loss are amnesia and dementia. Causes of Memory Loss Memory loss can occur due to the following causes: · Aging Aging Alzheimer’s Disease The important diagnostic sign is a change in the patient’s personality, language, decision-making ability, and inability to remember things. Alcohol Dementia Concussion Preventive Measures for Brain Loss Mind Exercise Eating Healthy Exercising your brain, following a healthy lifestyle, and eating antioxidant-rich foods will keep memory loss at bay. About the Author
Article Source: www.isnare.com Back to Top 4 Common Causes of Memory Loss Submitted By: Gregory Frost Who might have guessed it that memory loss can happen to anyone, regardless of his or her age. You might only be 35 years old but your memory capacity is no better than that of a 60 year old. Does the thought of losing all your precious memories scare the crap out of you? Then learn these 4 common causes of memory loss and how you can prevent yourself from doing the same mistakes and save yourself from the horror of losing your memory. #1 Diet Some people just ignore the importance of their diet and base their diet on chips, chips and more chips! An unhealthy and unbalanced diet will just make your mind and body suffer. A good diet will allow good circulation in the body hence, allowing the memory to register past and present information quickly. At the same time, do remember to include a good dosage of exercises to top up with all the dieting. Exercising will help to keep the memory fresh and at the same time rejuvenating the body. Also, do note of some of the healthy foods like blueberries, spinach and broccoli, that can help to save you and your memory. #2 Lack of activity When you are not particularly an active person, then chances are you are going to be mentally weak too. This hence pose as a challenge for you as now you will find it harder to process information fast. As the matter of fact, if you keep on with this unhealthy habit, then chances are you are going to suffer from memory loss at a very young age. What you can do is to practice some mind exercises that involves some kind of brainstorming and thinking along the way. You can also make your memory work by trying out new things for example, learning a new instrument or learning a new language. #3 Lack of thinking Thinking is not a very hard process. Everyone can think, but it is just that some might lack the ability to think effectively. Just like when you carry weights consistently, you will find that your body gets toned up over time. The similar analogy applies to the brain. When the brain is able to do some work, it gets worked up and healthy. This is why students are encouraged to do lots of brainstorming session so as to make their brain work and hence strengthening the power of the memory. #4 Old age Memory loss usually happens due to old age. The true scientific explanation regarding old age memory loss is not known but some have speculated that the brain cells decrease over time and hence effecting these older generations as they continue to age. Others said that our brain cells are not communicating very well and hence memory and other information cannot be stored effectively. Be it short term memory loss or Alzheimer’s disease, suffering from memory loss can be heartbreaking news for some. It is time for you to use this as a guide and don’t let the memory loss stop you; instead it is YOU who should stop the memory loss. About the Author
Article Source: www.isnare.com Back to Top Living With Memory Loss Submitted By: Robert Kokoska Despite what you may have heard before in the past, memory loss is not proven as an inevitable part of aging - in fact, it is possible to enjoy a good long and short term memory at any stage of life regardless of age. It is simply just a matter of keeping your mind active and engaged as well as healthy by meeting your bodies nutrition requirements. If, however, you do happen to find that things are slipping your mind more often than they used to, here are some factors you should consider. How busy are you? If you are working yourself ragged, there may be little mental energy left over for you to deal with other important mental tasks. The result can be memory loss - or, at least, you may feel as though you are experiencing memory loss. In reality, you may just be overextending yourself and need a rest. You might not be able to pay attention to every detail if you simply have too many details to think about. Everybody's mind needs - and deserves to get - a break every now and again! To deal with this type of stress related memory loss, try giving yourself a break every few hours. The human mind is very self protective, and possibly you are just 'spacing out' because you have more than enough to do already and need to give yourself some deserved time off! If you are totally convinced that your memory loss is due to something other than just simple overwork, however, there are other measures you can consider. For example, it is very helpful to have and maintain a regular routine, and a regular place to put things around the house. If you always put your keys in exactly the same place when you come home, there is little chance that you will lose them or forget where they are the next time you need them. If you get into the habit to always follow the same routine, it gets imprinted on your mind as time goes on. You are less likely to experience memory loss if you are well organized and have a regular routine to follow. In fact, this is also true for everyone, completely regardless of their age! We all can benefit from having an orderly, relatively clutter free existence. Reinforce your organization by writing and keeping notes and lists. Because writing involves a large muscle group and many areas of the brain, it helps ideas to become fixed in your mind, minimizing memory loss. The more attention we give something, the less likely we are to forgit it. And then, of course, the notes or lists themselves are invaluable - they provide written records of your day, as well as being directives. Writing things down is one of the classic ways to avoid memory loss, and it still works just as well as it ever did and always will. Memory loss is not inevitable, regardless of what you may have previously heard. Many people enjoy excellent memory well into their seventies, eighties or even nineties. About the Author
Article Source: www.isnare.com Back to Top Can Memory Loss Be Linked To Aspartame Submitted By: Darrell Miller New research presented at the November meeting of Society for Neuroscience in New Orleans suggests NutraSweet (or aspartame) could be linked to aspartame consumption. Researchers at a University in Fort Worth, Texas believe aspartame consumed in excess could cause certain kinds of memory loss. Ninety students were studied and interviewed in one study. In this study their use of aspartame and memory problems were documented. The results, those that consumed aspartame regularly complained of forgetfulness related to various tasks they perform on a regular basis. They would forget to perform tasks at the time the tasks were scheduled to be performed. The students’ perceptions of their memory problems have yet to be backed up with concrete test results. Researchers tested students on short term memory with quizzes which tested the student’s ability to remember lists, phone numbers, and faces. Some of the researchers argued that this was not a real life test because all the students had similar results. Head of the study Timothy Barth, PH.D., stated that measuring everyday memory is difficult to perform and recommended further research be done to test memory and behavior in subjects ingesting varying amounts of aspartame. As a result, researchers believe the occasional ingestion of aspartame will not cause memory problems that are noticeable. The students who reported problems were consuming at least four diet drinks per day. The brain has an amazing ability to protect its self from small amounts of aspartame, but large amounts along with stress can have adverse affects on the brain. Children, the elderly, and those with brain injuries are most at risk. The researchers in these studies did comment that occasional consumption of aspartame is ok, but all the researchers performing the tests do not consume diet sodas at all. If you are worried about the affects of aspartame on your body and are not sure you currently consume too much, cut aspartame out completely for a week or two and see if your memory improves. Other factors like diet can affect your memory; researchers at General Mills showed that eating breakfast can boost memory in studies on elderly and children. Researchers are unsure why breakfast boosts memory, possibly because we do not eat for 7 – 8 hours through the night. Further research needs to be preformed on how protein, fat, and carbohydrates affect memory. One more factor that might preserve memory is an antioxidant rich diet. Several studies have shown positive results when one consume foods rich in antioxidants. It’s important to take vitamin A, C, and E in supplement form; these vitamins are great antioxidants which may help preserve memory. Also, eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Great supplements like vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E can be found at your local or internet health food store. About the Author
Article Source: www.isnare.com Back to Top Causes Of Short Term Memory Loss Submitted By: Paul Courtney It is very easy to put short term memory loss down to old age. And say that it is but natural to start forgetting things as you age. However, while this may be true, there are several other causes of short term memory loss that should not be ignored as they could be signaling to more complex problems. For example: Alzheimer’s disease As our population ages the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia become more and more prevalent.Anyone who has lost a loved one to Alzheimer’s understands that this cause of short term memory loss is something not to be taken lightly. Coupled with dementia, this disease is the subject of a lot of research and although no real cure has been found for it, nipping it in the bud or at least diagnosing it correctly in the preliminary stages is crucial. Blood Sugar Another problem associated with modern living is the tendency to skip meals during the day and making up with a large heavy meal at night. People that starve themselves then have a big meal often have very instable blood sugar levels. Low blood sugar can lead the brain to get sleepy and groggy and hence become one of the causes of short term memory loss. This is why doctors often recommend that patients who want to improve their memory have six small meals in a day as opposed to three large ones so as to keep blood sugar levels steady. Hormonal Havoc Again as a part of the aging process, hormonal imbalance is often a cause of short term memory loss as menopause sets in and estrogen levels start to dwindle. Although hormone replacement therapies and other such treatments and preventions have become common today, this is certainly a factor worth looking into when figuring out causes of memory loss. Depression and Drinking The pressures of living today is a major cause of depression and short term memory loss. People who are depressed and especially those who are taking medication often cannot remember things clearly because of the side effects of the drugs. Apart from medical drugs, recreational drug abuse and excessive alcohol consumption can also be amongst the causes of short term memory loss. Natural Treatments It is important to have your doctor diagnose yur condition and isolate the causes of your short term memory loss for your specific case, he may recommend drugs, mental exercises, a more healthy lifestyle or some natural, herbal supplements,. Although the results have not been very conclusive, some studies have shown that ginkgo biloba and anti-oxidants to help prevent brain cell damage and to restore mental memory function has been successful. Some like to try out the herbal supplements, some prefer a more pharmaceutical approach whereas some just like the old fashioned route of healthy eating and exercise. Ask your doctor which is best for your case. As they say “If you don’t use it you will lose it”, it is therefore very important to keep your mind and body active ensuring good blood circulation. Don’t sucome to the trappings of the modern sedentary lifestyle be active in both body and mind. About the Author
Article Source: www.isnare.com Back to Top The Relationship Between Memory Loss and the Brain Submitted By: Gregory Frost Memory loss can happen to everyone, regardless of his or her age. You might be 30 years old but your memory capacity is only as good as your grandmother’s. If this is happening to you, then something must be terribly wrong. The only problem is that once you are hit by memory loss, it is pretty tough for you to reverse the entire process. When it hits you, then it hits you for good. Some said that memory loss has got nothing to do with your brain. Some people said that memory loss happens because you are not using your brain enough. Are these statements true? We shall reveal to you the relationship between memory loss and the brain. Everyone hates the confusion caused when talking to a person with memory loss, particularly short-term memory loss. As much as you hate it, a person with short-term memory loss will find difficulties remembering what was being said within minutes. Your neighbor came over one day and rant t you about the good soccer game with Manchester leading. You nod with glee at this expected goal. A few minutes later you paused, and innocently asked your neighbor “So, who won?” Up till today, experts have yet to learn the true cause of memory loss. However they believe that memory lapses such, as Alzheimer’s are just the cause of normal wear and tear that happens as you age. Memory lapses due to old age cannot be stopped, but they can definitely be slowed down. As aforementioned, a person suffering from memory loss can face severe inconvenience and embarrassment, without a doubt. Some have speculated that memory loss happens when we lose brain cells as we age or when the brain cells are having difficulties communicating with each other effectively. Either way, none of these have been proven true. However, it was discovered that mental congestion could be one of the causes leading to early memory loss. Mental congestion occurs when one practices multi tasking and information overload. The information is unable to get it in first place. This would mean that you would have a hard time remembering information and things a like. What you can do instead is learn to not to rely on your memory and brain to remember when is the next meeting, and where are you suppose to meet your clients. The best way is of course to use the ever-trendy paper-and-pen method and jot all these information down for your future reference. There are ways whereby you can improve your memory capability by practicing good habits, starting from now. Good habits would include having a balanced healthy diet that is topped with regular exercises. This might seem to you to be another diet guide, but the reality is that eating the proper kind of food will help to boost your memory power. Foods like broccoli, spinach and blueberries will help you with this. All in all, our memory and how good we are able to retain information depends on a lot of factors. The complexity of the brain restricts us from finding the true relationship of the memory and the brain. However, what is more important is the ability to keep up a good memory and use simple techniques to prevent memory loss in the future. About the Author
Article Source: www.isnare.com Back to Top How To Reduce Memory Loss Due To Aging Submitted By: Michael Rupkalvis We all know people older than us who suffer from memory loss. The reasons for loss of memory are many, but may include disease, depression, emotional trauma and genetic causes, In this article we will be discussing the most common cause of memory loss, that being aging. Beginning in our early twenties, we lose approximately 1% of our brain’s nerve cells annually. So a typical 75 year old may have only about 50% of the memory function of his youth. Fortunately there are many steps we can take to reduce the rate at which we lose our memory as the years pass. In this article we will discuss just a few of the most crucial ones. For our discussion, we shall assume that no neuropsychological issues exist and that we are dealing with a relatively healthy person, whose memory problems are due exclusively to the aging process. There exist several modifications we can choose to make to our diet and our lifestyle that can positively influence our memory. These can involve drinking less alcohol, quitting smoking, and eating foods rich in fiber, vitamins and especially antioxidants (such as fresh fruits and vegetables), as these can contribute to the functioning of the brain. Other useful dietary adjustments are switching from red meats to fish rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, and eliminating from your diet foods prepared with chemicals such as preservatives like MSG. Also modifying your life so as to reduce your general stress levels can slow the rate of memory loss. Of course, participating in an exercise program or a daily regime of yoga can significantly lower stress. One often neglected area is herbal and nutritional supplements. Many of us take a daily supplement intended to help in maintaining the health of our heart, liver, blood, etc. – but totally ignore the excellent supplements that can improve our brain’s functioning. Let us briefly touch on a few of them. The well-known Ginkgo biloba and Vinpocetine (from the periwinkle plant) are blood vessel dilators that permit more oxygen to reach the brain. Two vitamins that are useful are Vitamin B and thiamine, being antioxidants which can aid in protecting brain cells from the damage caused by free radicals. Two other possible supplements to consider in order to reduce the rate of memory loss caused by our aging are phosphatidylserine and acetylcarnitine, both of which have been employed with Alzheimer’s patients with good results. In addition, the herbal supplements bacopa from India and the Korean ginseng apparently can have significant positive effects on the functioning of the brain, especially short term memory. There are several mental activities that may aid in maintaining our memory as the years pass. Clearly an active brain is more likely to fight off the ravages of age. Taking on new mental challenges, including learning a new language, playing chess or card games like bridge, or taking up a new musical instrument, are good examples. Making a conscious effort to remember particular things, like a person’s name or a phone number, may seem facile but when done regularly often helps maintain the level at which the brain functions. Also there are a number of memory tricks that can aid with specific items you may wish to be able to remember later, such as repetition, mnemonics (tricks to help one remember, for example the classic name Roy G. Biv where each of the letters in the name stands for one of the primary colors) and simply writing the words you wish to remember on a piece of paper and repeating them orally a number of times. The bottom line is that if one leads an active mental and physical life, is reasonably careful about the foods one eats, complements those with appropriate nutritional and herbal supplements, and foresakes habits like cigarettes and alcohol, the rate at which our brains lose their ability to remember things and events can be substantially reduced. About the Author
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