Short-term memory loss is a situation in which a person struggles to remember the things that happened in the recent past. Short-term memory loss may happen due to many reasons, ranging from a brain injury to an emotional trauma.
Popular American mnemonist and two-time memory champion of USA, Ron White, says that many people do not know much about short-term memory loss. They unnecessarily panic when they misplace something or struggle to remember anything.
White says that it is quite normal to forget things in day-to-day life. Misplacing a key or struggling to remember a recent incident cannot be compared with short-term memory loss. So, it is important to understand the condition properly.
Let’s begin with the definition of short-term memory
Short-term memory is also known as an active or primary memory. It is a process in which a person stores the information related to his or her current activities. In other words, storing details about a recent event or activities for a shorter period of time in the brain is called short-term memory.
How does the short-term memory work?
The different stages of memory are handled by different parts of the brain, according to a research work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2014.
The process of storing recent events begins by preserving the information in the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex. It is then transferred to the hippocampus, which holds the information for a shorter span of time. Gradually, the information gets stored in a section of the cerebral cortex that handles language and perception for permanent storage.
Why does the information gets transferred to the cerebral cortex after a short span of time?
Short-term memory has much lesser storage capacity than long-term memory. It is mainly because the information needs to be recalled quickly. Short-term memory can only store five to nine items at a time. When new things get stored, old things get bumped out. So, the brain cells cover events of ranging from the last 30 seconds to a few days.
What is short-term memory loss?
Short-term memory loss is a situation in which a person clearly remembers everything that took place in his life a decade or two ago. But he or she struggles to remember the things that happened a few minutes ago.
When does a person struggle with short-term memory loss?
Medically, a person can suffer from short-term memory loss due to numerous reasons. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that short-term memory loss can be caused due to medical conditions, such as a brain tumor, head trauma, cancer treatment, strokes and brain infections.
Seizures, depression, heart bypass surgery, and epilepsy can also lead to the situation. The functioning of brain cells can even be affected due to a shortage of oxygen supply and blood flow to the brain.
Meanwhile, the Brain Aneurysm Foundation (BAF) states that short-term memory loss can be a result of the rupture of bulging blood vessels. Aneurysms are bulging spots that are located on the walls of brain arteries.
The rupture initially causes bleeding in the surrounding compartments of the brain. The blood then clots in the compartments surrounding and increases pressure on the brain. Gradually, brain cells get irritated, damaged or even destroyed affecting the normal functioning of the brain.
Some of the other reasons for short-term memory loss could be stress, anxiety, depression, alcohol, and drug abuse. Witnessing a traumatic incident, such as a violent crime or an accident can also affect the brain.
Sleep Apnea, Vitamin B 12 deficiency, Silent stroke, and Certain medications
Short-term memory loss can also occur due to sleep apnea, silent stroke, certain medications, and vitamin B-12 deficiency
- Sleep Apnea: It is a disorder in which a person temporarily stops breathing for a short period of time at night. As mentioned above, it affects a person’s memory power mainly because it temporarily stops the oxygen supply to his or her brain.
- Silent stroke: In this condition, brain cells lose their ability to store things as it affects the blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain.
- Medications: Some medications, like sleeping aids, painkillers or anti-anxiety pills, can affect short-term memory.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency: This is one of the most common causes of short-term memory loss mainly because it can confuse a person. For more on B12 read our article here.
How to diagnose short-term memory loss?
Doctors do numerous tests to check the memory power of his or her patient. They begin the treatment by taking the medical history of a patient. Then, they ask a few questions to him or her to test the patient’s memory power.
Depending on the result, the doctor may order the patient to test his or her blood. The medical practitioner will then try to find out whether the patient is suffering from Vitamin B-12 deficiency or has any kind of thyroid problems.
The doctor may also check the patient’s mental status through cognitive testing. Then, he might order an EEG and a CT scan or MRI of the head to check the electrical activity in the patient’s brain.
Another test to check the patient’s mental status is cerebral angiography. It monitors the blood flow to the brain.
How to treat short-term memory loss without medications?
A person can improve his or her memory power by making simple changes to the lifestyle. Regular exercise, eight hours of sleep a day and nutritious and healthy diet can also help a person to improve his or her short-term memory.
A person can even boost his or her memory power by engaging the brain through various activities, like memory games, crossword puzzles, and Sudoku. Mnemonics is also a technique to boost the memory power of a person. This is a technique in which a person attaches an image, a phrase or a word with an object. For example, red for violence and white for peace.
Ayurveda has many herbs like shankpushpi, Brahmi, and jatmaasi to help calm the nerves and boost memory.
It is also important to know that short-term memory loss is not a non-curable medical condition. 30 percent of people struggling with this problem have recovered with proper treatment. While some people may take months to lead a normal life, a few others might just take weeks for recovery.
Rewire Your Brain for Health and Happiness : All About Neuroplasticity
Neurogenesis : All You Want to Know to Grow More Brain Cells