Memory Loss

Memory loss, or amnesia, is unusual forgetfulness. The cause determines whether amnesia comes on slowly or suddenly, and whether it is temporary or permanent.^[1] Normal aging may lead to trouble learning new material or requiring a longer time to remember learned material. However, it does not lead to dramatic memory loss unless diseases are involved.^[1] Some causes of memory loss include the following:^[1]

• Alcoholism
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Brain damage due to disease or injury
• Brain growths (caused by tumors or infection)
• Brain infections such as Lyme disease or syphilis
• Depression or emotional trauma
• Drugs such as barbiturates or benzodiazepines
• Electroconvulsive therapy (especially if it is long-term)
• Encephalitis of any type (herpes, West Nile, Eastern Equine)
• General anesthetics such as halothane, isoflurane, and fentanyl
• Head trauma or injury
• Hysteria, often accompanied by confusion
• Illness that results in the loss of nerve cells (neurodegenerative illness)
• Nutritional problems (vitamin deficiencies such as low vitamin B12)
• Seizures
• Stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)
• Transient global amnesia
• Temporal lobe brain surgery

For More Information

For more in-depth information on memory, read Human Memory and Memory Loss in our Elder Health Guides section.