Hello, louche-ga!
Your question intrigues me and you seem genuinely concerned about
your frequent forgetfulness. I have to say, it would bother me also. I
know there have been many times throughout my life when I have been
extremely forgetful…….and one of the possibilities you mentioned hits
home. Depression. You say you are frequently depressed for other
reasons, and I assume you have never taken any medication for this
condition, or spoken to a doctor about it. Your job also seems quite
stressful, and your lack of memory, which affects your job and life
overall, seems to be adding to the stress. Therefore, I was really
prompted to research this to see if there were any credible
suggestions along the lines you are willing to accept.
An article titled “Memory Problems” at
http://www.embarrassingproblems.com/pages2/memory.htm seems very
credible in it’s identification of possible causes and suggestions for
remedies. Some excerpts follow:
Possible causes:
Depression is the most common cause of memory problems. With
depression, many of the mental processes are slowed, and memory is
particularly affected. Unfortunately, worry about memory loss can
worsen the depression, producing a vicious circle.
Stress is another common cause of memory problems. Almost any worry
or stressful life event can affect our ability to store and recall
memories. When the problem is resolved, or time has healed the pain,
memory becomes as efficient as it was before.
Normal aging. During your mid-40s and 50s, it is quite normal to
believe you have become more forgetful. Surveys find that 75% of
people over the age of 50 report that they have had some ‘memory
problem’ over the past year. But it may not be as bad as you think -
young people forget things and don’t bother about it, but older people
take more notice of their memory lapses and worry. Don’t make the
mistake of thinking that everyday memory lapses are Alzheimer’s
disease - forgetting where you put your keys is not Alzheimer’s!
(This, however, doesn’t sound like you. Your memory problem seems
more serious than mere forgetfulness)
The ‘tip-of-the tongue’ phenomenon is a very common experience -
your mind suddenly freezes when you need a crucial word, such as a
name (often of someone you know well). This is more likely to happen
if it is a name that you seldom speak aloud, because scientists
believe you are simply having trouble retrieving the actual sound of
the word from your memory bank of word sounds. It is a nuisance, but
doesn’t mean you are on the way to serious memory loss.
(This doesn’t sound like you, either)
Alzheimer’s disease. Of course, a failing memory does occur with
Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is mainly a disease of the elderly.
About 1% of people in their 60s, 20% of those over 85 years and 30% of
those over 90 are affected.
(Who am I to say, but I doubt it!!)
The article suggests several suggestions, including exploring stress
and depression problems, trying Ginko Biloba (though there have
several conflicting opinions), exercising, smoking cessation, getting
enough sleep and memory exercise tricks (which I know you don’t want.)
The next page at http://www.embarrassingproblems.com/pages2/memory3.htm
I find particularly interesting in terms of your mention of
depression.
“Depression can creep up so gradually that you may not be aware
that you are suffering from it, so your doctor will first assess
whether or not you are depressed. If so, antidepressant medication
would be the most appropriate treatment and would restore your memory.
The improvement might not be immediate, as antidepressant drugs can
take several months to have an effect. Your doctor could also help you
to identify stresses or problems that may be affecting your memory,
and could advise on coping strategies.”
“If you or your doctor cannot work out the reason for your memory
problem, he or she could refer you to a special clinic. In the UK,
there are about 20 NHS memory clinics and one of the best known is at
St Thomas’s Hospital, London. Memory clinics assess whether or not you
have a memory impairment and what the cause might be. They also teach
strategies to improve the ability to acquire new information and to
consolidate and recall facts.”
An article from the American Geriatric Society (definitely not you!)
that deals primarily with old age and memory loss has some worthwhile
suggestions that apply to the younger population as well. Some
excerpts from “Memory Loss - Should I Be Concerned?” by Margaret
Winker, MD at http://www.americangeriatrics.org/education/forum/memoloss.shtml
follow:
“……..Problems with memory can have many causes, including medication
side effects, strokes, infections, depression, thyroid disease and
vitamin B12 deficiency, so it is important to be aware of problems
with memory and identify causes that can be treated or prevented.”
“If you have trouble with your memory, you should discuss the
problem with your doctor. Tell the doctor the specific problems, when
they occur, any recent changes in your home environment, and all the
medicines you are taking, including nonprescription and herbal or
"natural" remedies; also let him or her know if you drink alcohol.
Tell your doctor about when the problems first started, and whether
the problems have been the same, worse, or better over time. Any
fever, chills, pain, weight loss or gain, or recent changes in other
medical conditions should be discussed with your doctor. Any problems
with depressed mood should be discussed, including problems with
appetite or sleep disturbance.”
“After discussing these issues and performing a physical
examination, your doctor may perform a screening memory test that
includes basic questions regarding memory. The result of the screening
test may be normal, borderline, or abnormal.”
“If the memory test is normal or low-normal, the doctor may suggest
that you keep track of any memory problems over the next few months
and repeat the test after six months or so. Or the doctor may suggest
another type of memory testing called neuropsychological testing. This
type of testing is similar to the memory screen but includes many more
questions and tasks. The purpose of this test is to find out if the
problems with memory are not severe enough to show up on the screening
test, but are apparent in the more in-depth test. If the
neuropsychological testing is normal, then the problems with memory
are likely the very mild memory problems that may occur with aging. If
the test is borderline, the results can help the doctor decide if
additional testing might be important to look for a cause of memory
loss.”
The article “Alzheimer's or Common Memory Loss,” by Bruce Robinson,
M.D., M.P.H. at http://www.seniorpro.com/library/articles/falz19990708.htm
suggests three different types of doctors which you might consider
visiting to help diagnose you memory problems:
Neurologist:
“Neurologists are medical doctors who specialize in diseases of
the brain and nervous system. They have broad experience in these
diseases, and understand the unusual causes of memory loss. They are
the experts in the "differential diagnosis" of memory loss--what list
of possible causes applies to an affected person and which cause is
most likely.”
Psychiatrist:
“Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in the mind and
mental disorders. Psychiatrists, particularly those with special
training or interest in older persons, are experts in the management
of the mental complications of memory problems. Depression, behavior
problems, and severe confusion often interfere with best functioning
of the affected person and caregiver. Depression is also a common
cause of memory complaints.”
Neuropsychologist:
“Neuropsychologists are experts in the measurement of mental
function. They can test the brain in many areas, and offer the best
answers to questions of the nature and seriousness of mental changes
in early cases. The neuropsychologist can provide information to other
doctors on the pattern of mental changes that is useful in determining
the cause, particularly in difficult and unusual cases.”
An article titled “Not All Memory Problems are Caused by Alzheimer’s”
at http://www.doctorinternet.co.uk/Specialities/Neurology.html#Not%20all%20memory%20problems
again highlights the correlation between forgetfulness, stress and
depression.
“Waldemar and her colleagues at the Memory Disorders Research Unit
of the Neuroscience Center at Copenhagen University Hospital reported
on 785 consecutive patients referred over a period of 40 months. She
said 43 percent of them had progressive dementia but the remaining
patients had
"potentially reversible conditions that were the primary cause of
memory deficits in about 20 percent of the patients." Another 20
percent had "stable, mild cognitive disorder that might
progress but it was unlikely," she said. The remaining 20 percent were
just "healthy, worried adults."
“Waldemar says her research underlines the need for early assessment
by trained diagnosticians. She says that patients referred to the
Copenhagen center are subjected to a wide array of tests and exams
including physical examination, clinical history, X-rays and more
sophisticated imaging studies that show changes in the brain, as well
as standard laboratory tests. Although depression was the main
non-Alzheimer cause for memory problems, she says that poor nutrition
or thyroid disease can also mimic Alzheimer's disease.”
The University of California San Fransisco Medical Center has a
“Memory and Aging Center” that investigates memory disorders. You many
want to contact them. The following is an excerpt from their website
at http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/medical_services/neuro/memory/
“Almost everyone has a lapse of memory from time to time. You can't
remember where you parked your car or can't remember someone's name.
This is normal. But when memory loss interferes with work performance,
social activities and daily activities, you may need medical care.”
“Memory disorders can severely disrupt your life. Hundreds of
disorders, including Alzheimer's, can cause memory loss or dementia.
Memory loss may be due to conditions such as small strokes in the
brain, diabetes, high blood pressure, nutritional deficiencies,
reactions to medications, alcoholism and even depression can cause
symptoms similar to dementia.”
“At UCSF Medical Center, we treat memory disorders at our Memory and
Aging Center, the only comprehensive memory disorders center in
Northern California.”
To obtain a thorough diagnosis and treatment, please call:
Memory and Aging Center (415) 476-6880
You may need a referral from your primary care doctor
Physician referrals can also be obtained by calling (888) 689-UCSF
Another clinic you might consider is the UCLA Memory Disorders
Clinic. See the website at
http://www.healthcare.ucla.edu/handbook/program.asp?version=5619&programid=472
for a brief description of the program.
Duke University also has a Memory Disorders Clinic. Contact
information can be found at
http://www.duke.edu/deptdir/Memory_Disorders_Clinic.html
Because your question conveyed some serious concern about your
seemingly constant forgetfulness, I believe you might benefit from
some type of medical investigation and diagnosis. Maybe the first step
is a psychiatrist or neuropsychologist, to see if medication is a
possible avenue in treating depression and associated medical
problems.
I hope this helps. I wish you all the best. I’m sure you will be able
to find a workable solution to to this problem.
umiat-ga
Google Search Strategy
+memory +problems +causes
“memory enhancement”
US clinics memory loss
memory disorders clinic |
Clarification of Answer by
umiat-ga
on
11 Oct 2002 06:24 PDT
Hello, louch-ga,
Two things I would like to add:
My fellow researcher, searchbot, was right in suggesting you look
more into Adult Attention Deficit Disorder. You may review an
extensive list of Adult ADHD symptoms from the Monterey Preventive
Medical Clinic at http://www.wellnessmd.com/add.html
Another, lengthy article you should read, titled "Adult ADHD:
Evaluation and Treatment in Family Medicine," by Russell Searight.
American Family Physician (11/1/2000)can be found at
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m3225/9_62/67051979/print.jhtml
A short excerpt follows:
"Adults who have retained some, but not all, of the symptoms of
childhood ADHD may be best diagnosed as having ADHD in partial
remission.(5,6) While the DSM-IV criteria for ADHD may be applied to
adults, these dimensions tend to reflect presentations in children.
The subtlety of ADHD symptoms among adults has led to several
modifications of existing criteria. Rather than requiring six DSM-IV
symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity, some investigators propose
requiring only five such behaviors for older patients.(7) In addition,
the symptoms take different forms in adults."
"There is growing consensus that the central feature of ADHD is
disinhibition.(8) Patients are unable to stop themselves from
immediately responding, and they have deficits in their capacity for
monitoring their own behavior. Hyperactivity, while a common feature
among children, is likely to be less overt in adults. The "on the go"
drivenness seen in many ADHD children is replaced in adults with
restlessness, difficulty relaxing and a feeling of being chronically
"on edge."(1)
"Patients with a range of psychiatric conditions may emphasize
difficulty with concentration, attention or short-term memory when
they describe their problems to the physician.(14) It is important to
exclude other psychiatric conditions, most of which are actually more
prevalent than ADHD among adults (Table 5). Major depression and
substance abuse, in particular, commonly accompany adult ADHD."
"Importantly, most adults with ADHD do not have a "pure" form of the
disorder. Comorbidity is more likely to be the rule than the
exception. It is not clear whether these comorbid psychiatric
conditions are a psychologic effect of preexisting ADHD or are simply
associated with ADHD.(2) For example, substance abuse may have
developed as a way to reduce the frustration arising from
distractibility, inattention and impulsivity. If a comorbid
psychiatric disorder exists in a patient with ADHD, the patient should
be educated about the ADHD symptoms that will resolve with stimulant
therapy and the symptoms of the other psychiatric condition that may
warrant additional treatment."
It is important to note that Google researchers are not
doctors....therefore, my advice still stands....go to a physician or
clinic that is able to diagnose your symptoms on a comprehensive
scale, whether it be a "Memory clinic" or a clinic specializing in
Adult "ADHD". I imagine, however, that a Memory Clinic may also
consider Adult ADHD in their evaluation.
One other point....I am sorry to have jumped in and "taken over" by
ignoring your ongoing conversation with Searchbot. He is an excellent
researcher and I owe him a public apology!
umiat
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