7 Common Types of Memory Disorders
Most people experience memory lapse from time to time. It may be a minor occurrence like having difficulty remembering names or even forgetting where the keys are placed. However, when memory loss interferes with the daily tasks, works or activities of a person it may become problematic. The human’s mental speed actually declines from the late-teens and early 20’s, particularly when stress is involved. There are many factors that contribute to different memory disorders such as minor strokes in the brain, high blood pressure, diabetes, nutritional deficiencies, medications, alcoholism and even depression. Research shows that depression can cause symptoms comparable to dementia.
Memory disorders are results from neurological damage to the structure of the brain. It can range from mild to severe impeding the storage, retention and recollection of memories. They can either be progressive like Alzheimer’s or immediate caused by traumatic head injury. Also, most disorders aggravate due to ageing which remains the single greatest risk factor for all neurodegenerative diseases.
Here are the different common types of memory disorders:
Memory Slip
Forgetfulness of things like keys or names is actually a common trait of attention disorder, mostly known as memory slip. Professor Ian Robinson of Trinity College said people find it harder to split their attention between several tasks as they get older. Thoughts get to clutter up in the brain which cause neurotransmitter to fire up, preventing the relay of messages to the brain.
Alcohol-related Dementia
Alcohol dementia is the result of damage throughout the brain caused by the abuse of alcohol. There are 10% younger people affected by alcohol-related dementia according to the Alzheimer’s Society. The accumulation of toxins on the brain alters the ability of the brain to function normally.
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Mental Blocks
The common experience of mental blocks is when the frontal lobes of the brain temporarily lose track of what it is supposed to do. Mental blocks has become a common case for old people. The occurrence is due to a limited capacity of holding number of thoughts causing one thought to be erased easily.
Dementia
The group of symptoms caused by the impact of disease on the brain is called dementia. Symptoms include problems with speech, memory and perception. Dementia usually affects the short-term memory causing a person to forget names and inability to perform everyday tasks.
Alzheimer’s Disease
The most common cause of dementia is the Alzheimer’s Disease affecting around 500,000 people in the UK. The chemistry of the brain are being modified and the cells, nerves and transmitters strike. This will eventually causes the brain to shrink as gaps further develop. Moreover, research shows that early onset Alzheimer’s occur due to a specific type of genes people inherit.
Vascular Dementia
Vascular dementia is caused by damage to the blood vessels leading to the brain. The blood vessels transport oxygen to the brain. If there’s a lack of oxygen delivered to the brain, it is likely for the brain cells to die. Eventually, this will cause a series of small strokes in the brain also known as multi-infarct dementia.
Post-traumatic Memory Loss
Severe stress can modify the structure of the brain including the brain cells resulting to long-term memory loss. This can arise after a serious accident and from a traumatic experience. Studies show that soldiers experienced shrinkage of the memory center due to diminished the brain cells caused by immersed brain chemicals called glutamate.