Just because a person starts to forget things does not mean that the person is suffering from dementia. We all have varying abilities when it comes to remembering things, some people just seem to have a better memory than others, and some people are more forgetful than others. Although telling someone with memory loss that they have dementia is a common joke when they forget something, it can be quite frightening when a person does genuinely suffer from memory loss.
Here are a few reasons that could make a person suffer from memory loss and not dementia
- Stress – If we are stressed then we have a tendency to just concentrate on the problem that is causing the stress. This often results in forgetting simple things. Stress can also lead to other medical problems so always try to fight the reason for the stress.
- Depression – memory loss and depression are closely linked. If a person has depression then remembering things can be the last thing on their mind. The mind is often dealing with problems the person is depressed with, which can lead them to be “preoccupied” with other issues. Other symptoms of depression can include a sad mood, loss of enjoyment and interest in subjects that they used to enjoy, unusual sadness, crying uncontrollably, feelings of past and present guilt , feelings of uselessness, little motivation, sleep problems, constant tiredness, difficulty with affection towards anything, poor appetite, bouts of aggression and restless
- Drugs – Some drugs can have side effects that cause memory loss. If a patient is taking more than one type of drug this can lead to confusion and memory loss if the drugs interact with each other.
- Accident – If you have an accident to the head quite often this can lead to memory loss after the accident. The consequences can vary enormously from forgetting the events that led to the accident to having permanent damage to the memory. If you suspect somebody is suffering from memory loss due to a bang to the head it is always advisable to seek immediate medical attention from a hospital or doctor.
- Age – Many people, especially as we reach the age of 60+ start to suffer from some form of memory loss. This memory loss is know as “age-associated memory impairment”, this is not the same as dementia. An example of this form of memory loss as we get older would be the ability to learn new procedures, understand technology or to even remember peoples names. Many people think that doing simple things like playing games, doing quizzes, crosswords, reading often, learning a new skill, exercising often, may all help to keep your memory in good shape as we get older.
