The Mystery of Memory Loss

You can't find a subject more interesting, complicated, or puzzling as the human brain. Your own memory is one of nature's great mysteries. If you are curious, you can find many types of information on the subject. Memory theories range from how to transform short-term into long-term memory, to what foods will help memory. Even the poets find memory evocative and mysterious.

One of the greatest puzzles is the reason for shortfalls in short-term memory. What do the neurologists have to say about this perennial problem? Why does human memory fail us when we try to remember the name of someone we met yesterday--yet we remember clearly the name of our first grade teacher? Why do we remember an obscure chemical from our biology text, yet forget other, more straightforward things? And why do we struggle so hard to remember a fact for an exam?

Do you forget things just now and then? Or do you have an unwanted reputation for absent-mindedness? Here are some tips to help you either way.

Why do we forget?

There is no one culprit for memory loss. Instead, there are a handful of reasons for memory problems. For instance, perhaps you've had more memory problems since the onset migraine headaches. Researchers show that people with severe headaches or migraines suffer from a "migraine stupor'" This is a feeling of forgetfulness that starts when a migraine or strong headache begins, and afterwards. The stupor leaves the person feeling somewhat confused and bewildered.

Lifestyle issues can also impact your memory. Heavy drug and alcohol use can alter human memory. Heavy drug use, for instance, can substantially reduce the ability to recall information and memories. This results from the action of hallucinogenic substances contained in the drug. Excess consumption of alcohol can also cause permanent memory issues. Permanent brain cell damage can result in the drinker's inabilities to remember important dates—like your birthday—and significant facts.

Physical diseases and bodily changes can be major causes of reduced memory power. As soon as someone becomes forgetful, their friends and family members bring up the dreaded word "Alzheimer's Disease." While Alzheimer's does cause damage to the brain's ability to remember, other conditions do too. For instance, lowered thyroid levels—hypothyroidism—is another culprit. Reduced thyroid hormones cause lapses in memory, since we need these hormones for the brain to stay active, alert, and healthy. Women also experience memory issues when they go through menopause. This period changes many hormone levels, wreaking havoc with many memory skills.

Then there are head injuries and traumas. This is a popular plot line in TV shows and movies. However, amnesia is a much less common cause of memory loss than the conditions mentioned above.

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