Memory Disorders

Almost everyone has a lapse of memory from time to time. You can’t remember where you parked your car or can’t remember a name. But when memory loss interferes with your work, social activities and daily tasks, you may need medical care. Memory loss may be due to many conditions such as small strokes in the brain, diabetes, high blood pressure, nutritional deficiencies, reactions to medications and alcoholism. Even depression, if more severe, can cause symptoms similar to dementia. Memory loss itself does not mean you have dementia. A comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation can help you understand the factors or conditions causing your memory loss.

Memory problems may be due difficulties in encoding, consolidation, retrieval or recognition of information. The memory problems may be progressive and associated with a dementia process or more immediate and short-lived with a concussion or mild traumatic brain injury.

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

Memory loss has long been recognized as an inevitable part of aging. Everyone experiences a senior moment, the inability to recall the name of an acquaintance or the items on a shopping list. With age, these memory lapses become more common.

But a sharp decline in short-term memory could be more than normal forgetfulness. It could be a symptom of a condition called mild cognitive impairment (MCI). People with MCI tend to retain critical thinking and reasoning skills but experience a significant short-term memory loss. They may experience trouble remembering the names of people they meet or the flow of a conversation. They also may have an increased tendency to misplace things. They may rely more on a calendar, notes and lists but still manage their daily activities.

Mild cognitive impairment may be a signal of a more serious condition on the horizon. It is believed to be a transitional disease between the normal memory loss of aging and conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. MCI has been associated with a higher-than-normal risk of dementia but not all MCI patients develop it.