Why Your Memory Is Bad and What to Do About It | Be Brain Fit

Memory loss in young adults is almost always a direct result of an unhealthy lifestyle that includes a lack of sleep, excess stress, a poor diet ... SkiptocontentMenuMenuLastupdatedJuly27,2022.EditedandmedicallyreviewedbyPatrickAlban,DC.WrittenbyDeaneAlban.Memorylosshappensatallages.Knowingthedifferencebetweennormalandseriousmemoryproblemsisimportant.Learnabouttheactionsyoushouldtake.Abadmemoryisfrustratingandcanbedownrightscary.Ifyourmemoryisn’twhatitusedtobe,youmightassumethatyourmemoryissuesareaninevitablepartofgettingolder.Ifyourmemorygetsbadenough,youmightthinkthatyou’reheadedfordementiaorAlzheimer’s.Butmemoryproblemscanhappenatanyageand,infact,areusuallymorearesultoflifestylehabitsthanage-relatedmentaldecline.Therearemanypotentialreasonsforabadmemory,andfortunately,mostarenotseriousorpermanent.Justasimportantly,therearemanystepsyoucanactivelytaketoimproveyourmemory.20SignsYourBadMemoryIsWithinNormalLimitsSomeforgetfulnessisnormalandhappenstoeveryonefromtimetotime;it’snothingtobealarmedabout. Hereare20signsthatyourmemorylapses fallwithinwhat’sconsideredanormalrange: Youremembertheplotofamovieyourecentlywatched,butyoucan’trememberthetitle.Oryoucanpictureanactor’sface,butyoucan’trecallhisname.Youcan’trememberaword,butit’snotaconversationstopper.Youusuallythinkofitlaterorreplaceitwithanotherwordasyou’retalking.Youknowyourwayaroundtown. Butwhengivingdirectionstoothers,youmightnot rememberthenamesofallthestreets.Youwalkintoaroomandcan’trememberwhyyouarethere.Thisisawell-knownphenomenon—walkingthroughadoorwaycancauseamomentarymemorylapse. Youoccasionallymisplaceeverydayitemslikeyourkeys,glasses,orremotecontrol,but,forthemostpart,yourememberwherethingsarekept.MindLabProWHAT'STHEBESTBRAINSUPPLEMENT?Wehearthisquestionoften.Here'souranswer:#1Liveabrain-healthylifestylefirst(BeBrainFittellsyouhow).#2GiveMindLabProatry.Thisbrainsupplementmeetsall12ofmyrequirementsforahigh-qualitybrainsupplement,includingeffectiveness,safety,purity,andvalue.Soit'seasierforyoutobementallysharper,happier,andmoreproductive.Choosingtherightbrainsupplementisallaboutquality.Now,buya3-monthsupply(3boxes)ofMindLabPro&get1monthfree.This25%discountincludesfreeshippingworldwide.SeewhyIrecommendMindLabPro.Dr.PatYousometimescallyourkids,coworkers,orpetsbythewrongnames,butyoudefinitelyknowwhoiswho.You’vebeenknowntoforgetandmissanoccasional appointment.Youdon’talwaysrememberwhatyoujustread.(Thisismostlikelyaconcentrationproblem,ratherthanamemoryproblem.)Yourememberthemainpointsofconversations,butnotalwaysthedetails.So,youmayrememberthemakeandcolorofyourfriend’snewcar,butforgetthemodel.Youcanusuallycompensateforyourmemorylapsessothattheyhavelittleimpactonyourday-to-daylifeorperformanceatwork.RelatedonBeBrainFit—ProvenWaystoImproveYourMemory(completeguide)Yourmemoryisstillgoodenoughthatyou recognizewhen you’reforgetful.You generallymakegooddecisions,andrarely agonizeoverthem.Ifyouasksomeoneaquestion,theiranswerregisterswithyou.Youdon’tkeepaskingthesamethingoverandover.Youmaynotalwaysknowtheexactdate,butyoualwaysknowtheyear,month,and thedayoftheweek.Whenyouusememorytoolslike notes,lists,andappointmentcalendars,youfindthemhelpful.Yourmemorycanbejoggedifsomeonepromptsyou.So,whenyoursignificantotherasks“Doyouknowwhattodayis?,”yourememberthatyouforgottheirbirthday.Youknowhowtouseappliancesandelectronicsaroundthehouse.You’reabletolearnnewthingswhenyouwanttoorneedto.Youfindyour forgetfulnessmoreannoyingthanworrying andcan usuallylaughaboutit.Yousometimesfeelfrustratedaboutyourbadmemory,butnotdownrightangryorindenialaboutit.Ifyourmemoryisnotmuchworsethanitwasafew yearsago,that’sanotherindicationthere’sprobablynothingtoworryabout.Forexample,ifyou’vealwayshadaterrible senseofdirection,gettinglostnowisnormalforyouandnotasignofcognitivedecline.Tosumup,smallorshort-termissuesaregenerallynotaproblem.Largerorlastingchangesinyourmemory,however,meritacloserlook.LifestyleCausesof“Normal”MemoryLossIfyourless-than-stellarmemoryis annoyingtoyoubutfallswithinthenormalrange,nowistheperfecttimetoexaminehow yourlifestyleisaffectingyourbrain.Often,abadmemoryismerelyasideeffectofahecticorunhealthylifestyle.Adiethighinsugarandunhealthytransfatscanleaveyouinabrainfogandhaveyoufeelinganxiousordepressedaswell.Whenyourdietispoor,thebraindoesn’tgetthenutrientsitneedstocreatehealthybraincellsandformthebrainchemicalsthatcontrolmemory.RelatedonBeBrainFit—TheMINDDiet:EatingforaHealthyBrain(detailedguide)Beingstressedoutmakesyoumoreemotionalandlessabletorecallfacts. Evenmoderatesleeplosscansignificantlyaffectmentalperformance. Itshouldcomeasnosurprisethattheabuseofrecreationaldrugsoralcoholcancontributetomemoryloss. Evendehydrationcantemporarilyimpactmentalperformance. Nutritionaldeficienciesaresurprisinglycommonandcanalsoberesponsibleformemorylossandothercognitiveproblems. Thus,youcanimproveyourmemorybygettingenoughqualitysleep,eatingabrain-healthydiet,andtakingactivemeasurestoreducestress.MemoryLossCausesin YoungAdultsIfyou’reayoungadult,youmaybemystifiedastowhyyourmemoryisbad.Typically,wethinkofmemoryissuesasgoinghandinhandwithaging,butunfortunately,memorylossisbecomingmorecommoninyoungadults.Onesurvey foundmillennials(ages18to34)morelikelytoforgetwhatdayitisorwheretheyputtheirkeysthanseniors. Memorylossinyoungadultsisalmostalwaysadirectresultofanunhealthylifestylethatincludesalackofsleep,excessstress,apoordiet,andrecreationalsubstanceuse.BingeDrinkingandRecreationalDrugUseBingedrinkingandrecreationaldrugusearethemostseriousreasonsthatyoungadultshavememoryproblems.Collegestudentsareathighriskforalcohol-inducedblackout—drinkingtothepointofhavinglittleornomemoryofblocksoftime. Duringablackout,yourbrainisliterallyunabletoformnewlong-termmemories. MultitaskingManyyoungpeoplearegluedtotheirelectronicdevicesandareavidmultitaskers,whichisbadnewsfortheirmentalfunctioninginseveralways. Multitasking,whichrequiresthebraintotogglebackandforthbetweenactivities,disruptsshort-termmemory—thecapacityforretainingpiecesofinformationforshortperiodsoftime. Notpayingfullattentiontoanyonethingmakesithardtorememberanything.EMFExposureManyyoungadultssleepwiththeirmobilephonesbytheirside,exposingtheirbrainstopotentiallydamagingelectromagneticfields(EMFs)24/7.EMFexposurecancausesignificantdisruptioninlevelsofbrainchemicals,negativelyimpactingmemory,learning,emotions,andstresslevels. STAYINFORMED!OurBrainPowerUpGuideisyoursFREEwhenyousubscribetoourworld-classinformationonbrainhealth&performance.SENDMETHEGUIDEBlueLightAndfinally,thebluelightemittedbycomputingdevicesisespeciallydisruptivetobrain-restorativesleep. Twohoursoftabletusebeforebedhasbeenshowntosignificantlysuppresstheformationofmelatonin,thebody’snaturalsleephormone. Insufficientsoundsleepcancertainlyaffectmemorysincememoryconsolidationoccursduring sleep. 15SignsYourBadMemoryMayBe SeriousNowlet’slookatsignsthatyourmemoryissuesmaybeserious.Someoftheseyoumayhavenoticedyourself,orperhapswell-meaningfriendsorfamilyhaveexpressedtheirconcerntoyou.[Discover20supplementsproventoimprovememory.]Youshouldlistentothem.Studiesshow thatfriendsandfamilycandetectearlysignsofAlzheimer’sevenbetterthanhigh-techmedicaltests. Ifyoucanansweryestothesequestions,it’spossibleyourmemorylapses aresomethingtobeconcernedabout: WhenwatchingTVorreadingbooks,youhaveahardtimefollowingplots.You’vebeentoldthatyourepeatyourselfduringthesameconversationoraskthesamequestionoverandover.Yourmemorylosshasscaredyou.Realizingthatyoudon’tknowwhereyouareorthatyouleftaburneronthestoveonafterleavingyourhomeareexamplesoffrighteningmemorylapses.Yougetlostwhiletakingfamiliarroutesorwhenyou’reclosetohome.Youfrequentlymisplacethings. Youputthingsinstrangeplaces. You’veevenwonderedif othersare stealing fromyou.Youbuyitemsatthestore,forgettingthatyoualreadyhaveplentyathome.Yousometimesfinditdifficulttokeepupwitheverydaytaskslikepayingbillsorpreparingfood.You’vetriedusinglists,remindernotes,calendarsandsuch,buttheydon’t help.You’veexperiencedpersonalitychanges. You’vebecomemorerestless and impatientorquietand withdrawn.RelatedonBeBrainFit—Short-TermMemoryLoss:Causes,Symptoms,TestingSometimesyouforgettoeat orcan’trememberwhether you’veeatenornot.You’reworriedthatyou’relosingyourgraspofrealityandothershavealsoexpressedconcern.They’vequestionedyourjudgment,yourabilitytotakecareofyourself,orhavementionedthatyou’veactedinappropriately.Whenothersbringuptheselapses, yougetangry,defensive,ordenyit.Youstruggletomakedecisionsabouteverydaychoiceslikewhichclothestowear.Yourfriendsandfamilyare subtlytryingtotakeovertasksforyou.You’recoping,butdailylifeisbecomingmoredifficult.Experiencingthesesymptomsindicateswhatisconsideredabnormalforgetfulness. Thesesymptomsmaybeearlysignsofmildcognitiveimpairment,astageofcognitivedeclinethatcanprecededementia.WhattoDoIfYourMemoryLossSeemsSeriousIfyoushowsignsofseriousmemoryloss,youmaybeconcernedthatyourconditioncouldleadtodementiaorAlzheimer’s."Prescriptiondruginteractionsmayberesponsibleforasmanyasthreeoutoffourdementiacases.Whilethat’spossible,it’smorelikelythatyouhaveanunderlyinghealthconditionortakeamedicationthat’scausingyourmemoryproblems.Sofirst,we’lltakealookatthesetwoscenariosand,hopefully,easeyourworries.Thenwe’lltakealookatdementiaandAlzheimer’ssothatyouunderstandtherisksofthoseaswell.UnderlyingHealthConditionsThatCauseMemoryLossTherearemanyunderlyingcausesofforgetfulness. Theseincludebothphysicalandmentalhealthconditionssuchas:AIDSanxietybipolardisorderbraindiseasesbraininjurycancerconcussionCOVID-19depressionepilepsyfibromyalgiaHuntington’sdiseasekidneydisordersliverdisordersLymediseasemenopausemultiplesclerosisnutritionaldeficienciesParkinson’sdiseasepost-surgerypost-traumaticstresspregnancyschizophreniastrokesubstanceabusethyroiddisorderstuberculosisWestNilevirus MedicationsThatCauseMemoryLossMemorylossisanextremely commonsideeffectofprescriptiondrugs.ArmonB.Neel,Jr,PharmD,isageriatricpharmacistwhoformerlywroteAARP’s“AskaPharmacist”columnandpennedtheeye-openingexposéAreYourPrescriptionsKillingYou?.Herevealsinhisbookthatprescriptiondruginteractionsmayberesponsibleforasmanyasthreeoutoffourdementiacases.RelatedonBeBrainFit—DrugsThatCauseMemoryLoss(&whatyoucando)Thisishorrifying,andlargelyavoidable.Cholesterol-loweringmedications andsleepingpillsaretwooftheworstoffenders.Butnotallmedicationsthatcausememorylossareprescription-only.Someofthemostpopularover-the-counterremediesfortreatingallergies,colds,coughs,skinirritations,insomnia,headaches,andpaincausememorylossbyblockingtheformationofacetylcholine,theneurotransmitterassociatedwithmemoryandlearning. IsYourBadMemoryDuetoDementiaorAlzheimer’s?Ifyou’veruledoutyourlifestyle,prescriptions,andhealthconditionsasthecausesofyourmemoryissues,youmightbeconcernedthatAlzheimer’sistheonlyexplanationleft.Butthisisstillprobablynotthecase.Here’swhy.DementiavsAlzheimer’s— What’stheDifference?Thereisalotofconfusionaboutwhatdementiaisandhowit differsfromAlzheimer’sdisease.Thetermsareoftenusedinterchangeablyeventhoughtheyaren’tthesamecondition.Let’sclearupthedifference.Thereareover100typesofdementia. Alzheimer’sisjustoneofthem.(ImagecourtesyofUniversityofTorontoNeurowiki)Dementiaisnotaspecificdisease.It’sanumbrellatermusedtodescribeaclusterofsymptoms,includingimpairmentstomemory,communication,andthinking.Thereareover100underlyinghealthconditionsthatcancausedementiaandAlzheimer’sisjustoneofthem. Alzheimer’sisthemostcommonform ofdementia,responsible forabout60%ofdementiacases. Theremainingdementiacasesareduetoawiderangeofmedicalconditions,including: neurodegenerativediseases(suchasParkinson’s,Huntington’s)ischemicvasculardementia(resultingfromastroke)vasculardementia(alsocalledmulti-infarctdementia)infectiousdiseases(suchasHIV)alcoholismdruguse(bothprescriptionandrecreational)depressionheadtraumabraintumorsnutritionaldeficienciestemporaryconditionssuchasfever,dehydration,oraminorheadinjurySoyoucanseethattherearestillmanynon-Alzheimer’spossibilitiestoruleout.Mostformsofdementiaaretreatableandsomeareevenreversible.Andlastly,restassuredthatbeingdiagnosedwithanon-Alzheimer’sformofdementia doesnotnecessarilymeanthatitwilldevelopintoAlzheimer’slater.Now,TalktoYourDoctorAboutYourMemoryConcernsIfyoususpectthatyourmemoryproblemisserious,Iurgeyoutotalktoyourdoctor.Insistthattheylookforanypossibleunderlyinghealthconditionsandreassessyourmedications.Theanswercouldbesomethingassimpleascorrectingavisionorhearingproblem,addressinganutritionaldeficiency,oradjustingyourmedications.Makesurethatyouaretakingtherightdosageandthatyouaren’texposingyourselftoharmfuldruginteractions.Discusswhetherallthemedicationsyoutakeareabsolutelynecessary.Investigatewhethertherearebetterwaystotreatyourhealthissues,suchaspracticingstressreductiontechniquesormakingchangesindiet,exercise,orotherlifestylefactors.RelatedonBeBrainFit—OnlineMemoryTestsYouCanTrust(extensiveguide)Beforeyourappointment,downloadtheAlzheimer’sAssociation’s10-pointdementiasymptomchecklist.Youcanusethischecklistastalkingpointstodiscusswithyourdoctor.Also,askyourdoctorwhetheryoushouldtaketheSelf-AdministeredGerocognitiveExam,or SAGEtest,beforeyourappointment.ItwasdesignedattheOhioStateUniversityWexnerMedicalCenter todetectearlysignsofmemorylossand othercognitive impairments.Youcaneasilytakethiswrittentestathomeusingpaperandpencil.Theresultsofyourtestcanhelpyourdoctordecidewhetherfurtherevaluationisneeded.Itcanalsobeusedasabaselinetomonitoranychangesinyourmemoryovertime.IfYouHaveaBadMemory:TaketheNextStepPeopleofallagescanexperienceissueswithmemoryloss.Havingabadmemorycanbeworrying,butfortunately,itisrarelyserious.However,ifyouhavereasontobelievethatyourmemorylossisserious,talktoyourdoctor.Youneedtoruleoutmedicationsandunderlyinghealthconditionsascausesofyourmemoryloss.But,regardlessofyoursituation,yourmemorycanbenefitfromadoptingabrain-healthylifestyle.Recommended:Upgradingbrainhealthiskeytomakingyourbrainworkbetter.MindLabProisthebrainsupplementwerecommendbecause,byboostingyourbrainhealth,itcanhelpyou:Improveyourmentalclarityandfocus.Boostyourmemoryandyourabilitytolearn.Increaseyourcapacitytothinkcritically,solveproblems,andmakedecisions.SeeourMINDLABPROreview.PopularGuides