How many times have you misplaced your house or car keys, forgotten someone’s name or a specific word? As we get older we worry that memory slips such as these might be a sign of more serious brain issues but, in fact a lot of other medical or lifestyle factors can cause memory lapses as well. Here are some possibilities…
In his book, Younger Brain, Sharper Mind, US anti-ageing specialist Dr Eric Braverman talks about the importance of brain speed in memory retention. He explains that if the thinking slows too much, “the neurons no longer fire off information and new information will not be embedded in the memory.”
Typically we lose seven to 10 milliseconds of brain speed per decade after the age of 20, which is why memory fades with age, but some things can interfere further with the process – including many drugs, both prescription and over the counter. If you’ve noticed some problems, speak to your GP.
One of the most important vitamins for memory is vitamin B12, commonly found in meat. The problem is that absorption of this is reduced if you have low levels of stomach acid.
Signs that you might low stomach acid include reflux, heartburn and a feeling of food sitting in your stomach after eating. Starting meals with something bitter – either foods like rocket or a special digestive tonic like herbal bitters – can encourage acid production.
In US studies, women who followed a low carbohydrate diet for a week performed significantly worse on memory tests than those on a high-carb diet.
The theory is that quitting carbs reduces your brain’s available glucose, which it uses for energy, so it doesn’t get enough fuel to remember things. The good news is that when you introduce carbs again the problems reverses.
It’s rare in the under 40s, but in those over 60, 25 per cent of them experience some measure of cognitive decline seven days after surgery and 10 per cent still have it months after, say experts.
It’s not know whether the memory loss is due to the impact of the anaesthetic drugs on the brain or an inflammatory reaction.
French researchers found women with heart disease risk factors like high cholesterol and high blood pressure scored 7 per cent lower on memory tests than other women. Experts are not clear why heart failure is associated with loss of cerebral cells and worse cognitive function, however, they believe that adopting a healthy lifestyle and managing risk factors like high blood pressure and diabetes might help stop memory loss developing in non-sufferers.
Related: 8 Things Your Doctor Wants You To Know About Your Heart
Many women using contraceptive injections talk about memory slips as a side-effect. Researchers have found that animals given the hormone medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) – the active ingredient in those shots – had more difficulty remembering things as they aged than others. It’s suspected that MPA affects the neruotransmitter in slowing the brain down.
People who have sleep apnoea suffer from what researchers call micro-arousals throughout the night. In these, you wake up for a few seconds but it’s so fast you don’t even realise you’ve done it, but your brain does. This causes you memory loss. Allergy sufferers too, may suffer micro-arousals, so if your memory seems worse during hayfever season, that could be the reason why.
Women often complain of memory issues post-menopause, but US research shows that it’s during the perimenopause stage that’s worse for learning and recalling new things.
Experts say that it is likely due to a sudden drop of oestrogen, which is actually good for brain regions responsible for memory.
Over 70 per cent of chemotherapy patients experience memory lapses and fuzzy thinking. It’s not yet known if it’s due to the impact of cytotoxic drugs used during treatment. However, it tends to affect short-term memory and executive functions like multi-tasking. The good news is that for most people it passes after about six months. Exercise may help to improve your memory.
Relying on mobile phones to remember telephone numbers and appointments means most of us don’t use our memory as often as we should, and like a muscle it gets weak and lazy without use.