Causes of Short Term Memory Loss

Memory is all about storage, retention and recall of information. This information includes past experiences, influences, knowledge and thoughts. We need to draw on this information to conduct most of our tasks. Memory is of two kinds; long term and short term. Failure of both types of memory normally results from failure to adequately store, retain and retrieve the information.

Short Term Memory Loss

Short-term memory is also known as recent or working memory. It is basically a system for temporary storage and management of information, required to carry out simple and complex cognitive tasks. Some of these tasks include learning, reasoning, evaluation and comprehension. Short memory is vulnerable to many obstructions and interferences.

Possible Causes

Atlantic Mussel Food Poisoning: Atlantic mussels contain a toxin called domoic acid in them, which is known to affect nerve tissues.

Hormonal Imbalances: Loss of short term memory is strongly associated with low levels of estrogen. Many women are known to be affected during menopause.

Dementia: Dementia is progressive in nature, and characterized by mental confusion and impaired thought. It is caused due to many age related mental illness or disease in the body.

Pro-longed Depression and Anxiety: Depression and anxiety are known to cause a chemical imbalance, which makes it difficult to concentrate and pay attention to things. As a result, it becomes difficult for depressed people to store and retrieve information.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A persistent debilitating health, results in chronic fatigue, which slows down the chemical reaction in the brain, causing short term memory.

Alzheimer's Disease: A very common cause for short term memory loss, especially in older people is the brain disorder, Alzheimer's disease. It is incurable, degenerative and terminal and in time, leads to long term memory loss.

Lead Poisoning: Lead mostly targets the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells, and in time, attacks the nervous system resulting in memory loss.

Brain Injury: Any injury to the brain, even partial, can cause short term memory loss. People with brain disorders or illness where tissues are damaged, become susceptible to memory loss.

Substance Abuse: Though highly controversial, excessive use of alcohol, and persistent use of drugs like marijuana or hashish is believed to be a major cause of short term memory loss.

Blood Sugar: Unstable blood sugar levels, especially low blood sugar can cause the brain to slow down, resulting in short term memory loss. Many doctors recommend six small meals in a day, to keep blood sugar stable, and some brain exercises and specific brain enhancing food to improve memory.

Trauma: This is more of a psychological cause for short term memory loss. Here the brain tries to suppress painful or traumatic episodes of a person's life.

It is important to have a medical practitioner, assess the cause for short term memory. Treating short term memory loss on time is imperative, as it could be an indicator of more complex physical and mental problems.