Loss of memory is usually associated with aging as it has been estimated that by the age of 85 years and older, nearly 50% of individuals suffer from forgetfulness problems.
What is dementia?
Loss of memory in general is termed dementia, which refers to a group of illnesses and diseases that declines the person’s mental and neurological function which hampers daily life and activities. Parts of the brain responsible for memory, learning, decision-making, and language get affected due to infection or diseases. A person with this condition shows a decline in two or more of these particular problems:
- Memory
- Language
- Reasoning
- Coordination
- Mood
- Behavior
Best neurology multispecialty practice for treating memory issues
South Valley Neurology is the premier multispecialty neurology practice in the Bay area that has been proudly offering the best neurological treatment and care for patients of age 6 and up since 2011. They have the best board-certified neurologists who offer 100% focus to each patient working closely with them and providing compassionate care. They treat all kinds of neurological conditions like migraine, movement disorders, traumatic brain injury, myopathy, Parkinson’s disease, seizures, Alzheimer’s, dizziness, and numbness. Visit this clinic if you or any of your loved ones have started showing signs of memory issues for the right diagnosis and treatment in time.
Types of dementia
There are several types of memory issues that get worse and affect individuals over the years in different ways.
Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease affects elderly people due to the abnormal protein buildup between brain cells and the lack of connections between the nerve cells of your brain.
Lewy body dementia
This is caused by an accumulation of proteins in the brain that results in cognitive issues and produces abnormal body movement.
Vascular dementia
This term refers to abnormalities in the brain due to stroke or atherosclerosis, or stiffness of the arteries.
Causes of memory issues
The most common causes of memory problems are:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Vascular dementia
- Strokes
- Severe head injury
Less common causes are:
- Huntington’s disease: brain disorder caused due to a defective gene.
- Parkinson’s disease: problems with thinking and memory, delusions and hallucinations, depression, and speech problems.
- Vitamin deficiency: deficiency of vitamin B1, B6, B12, and vitamin E in the diet can cause loss of memory.
- Infections: infections like HIV, Lyme, and syphilis, COVID-19 can cause cognitive effects.
- Endocrine and medicinal side effects: thyroid problems, liver cirrhosis, taking anti-anxiety, anti-depressants, and sleeping pills for a long.
Treatment
While there is no permanent cure for memory loss, a treatment plan can be customized for proper care so that you can keep your independence for a long.
Medication
Proper medication can improve memory and reduce the decline while addressing the side effects like sleep disorder, anxiety, and depression.
Therapy for speech
This helps to maintain your ability to speak. As your memory condition worsens, you might have swallowing issues and your therapist can help you with this.
Counseling
Counseling helps you to manage your behavior and emotions while also providing your family with the tools to deal with your health and mental issues.
If you or your loved ones are noticing signs of forgetfulness, do not ignore it and visit the best neurological multispecialty center for proper treatment and care.