Memory problems can occur at any age

Memory problems are one of the most common complaints encountered by neurologists and therapists. Most often, older people complain of memory problems; this symptom is less common in young people.

At a young age, memory problems are usually not associated with severe organic pathologies of the brain and are caused by chronic stress, lack of sleep, and incipient circulatory disorders in the brain (for example, due to osteochondrosis).

In older people, the most common cause of memory loss is incipient dementia .

If memory problems occur, you should contact a neurologist for a comprehensive examination. After establishing the cause of memory deterioration, the doctor will select a comprehensive treatment.

It should be noted that if you consult a specialist in a timely manner, the prognosis is favorable even with dementia, since in the early stages changes in the brain are often reversible.

In the later stages of the disease, restoration of the brain and lost functions is impossible, and treatment is limited to preventing the progression of dementia and symptomatic treatment.

Types of memory

Memory is one of the most important properties of the central nervous system, generalizing a complex of cognitive activity and HMF (higher mental functions) aimed at the accumulation, preservation and further reproduction of various skills, knowledge and abilities.

Memory allows you to accumulate information about any events in the environment and the body's reactions to these events. Also, thanks to memory, it is possible to reproduce and change this information multiple times.

The main types of memory are divided according to the following criteria depending on:

1. from the sensory modality, memory is distinguished: visual (visual), motor (kinesthetic), sound (auditory), gustatory, olfactory, pain, eidic (long-term memorization of sensory information, based mainly on visual images, also eidic images can be supplemented by auditory, gustatory and other components).
2. memory is separated from the content:
   figurative (connection of various images with previously occurring events, previously seen objects, formation of a way of thinking, figurative reproduction of what was previously seen);
3. motor (memorization of motor automatisms, acquired skills, formation of automatic fine motor skills);
4. emotional (memorizing emotions, reactions to events, people, connection of place, sound, smell, taste with emotions);
5. social (memorizing the principle of social connections, the distinctive features of different people);
6. topographical (memorizing the topography of the area, home, walking and tourist routes).
7. from relation to time:
   prospective memory (remembering events planned for the future);
8. retrospective memory (remembering previously occurring events).
9. Depending on the duration of storage, memory is distinguished: ultra-short-term, short-term, long-term.

Features of temporary types of memory

Ultrashort memory, in turn, is divided into iconic (for visual perception) and echonic (for auditory perception). Ultrashort memory allows you to quickly process information coming from auditory and visual analyzers, and then quickly transforms into short memory.

For reference. Short-term memory allows you to remember a limited amount of information for up to 30 seconds. However, during subsequent analysis, the brain can extract additional information from this memory.

Short-term memory allows you to process mental processes, extract important information from sensory types of memory, evaluate the environment and perceive the world holistically.

Long-term memory belongs to the subconscious and allows you to store an unlimited amount of information. Long-term memory includes active information (used every day), passive (rarely used) and latent (used as a source of additional information).

Types of memory problems

Memory problems are divided into:

• amnesia (memory loss);
• hypomnesia (memory impairment);
• hypermnesia (rarely encountered abnormal memory exacerbation);
• paramnesia (distortion of memories, as well as mixing fantasies and reality).

Amnesia is most often temporary, with memory recovery occurring in chronological order.

Based on the type of memory loss, amnesia is divided into:

• dissociative - accompanied by loss of memories of traumatic events;
• retrograde - loss of memories of what happened shortly before the skull injury, stroke;
• anterograde - loss of memories of what happened after an injury or illness;
• fixation - the patient loses the ability to remember and reproduce current events that coincide in time with the injury or illness.

Memory impairments can also affect certain mnemonic operations. For example, when associative memory is impaired, the patient experiences problems making connections based on the similarity of objects or events.

For reference. Mnemonic processes are a set of mnemonic operations that provide the mechanisms of memory as a system: memorization, reproduction, preservation, forgetting of learned information.

If the ability to systematize is impaired, problems arise with establishing connections between actions or events. Violation of structuring leads to a loss of the ability to connect memories into a single picture.

Causes of memory problems

The main causes of memory impairment include:

• age-related memory impairment;
• dementia;
• cerebrovascular accidents;
• depression;
• lack of sleep, chronic fatigue, stress and prolonged overwork;
• alcoholism;
• Alzheimer's disease;
• moderate cognitive impairment (pre-dementia);
• multiple sclerosis.

Rare causes of memory impairment include normal pressure hydrocephalus, subdural hematomas, hypothyroidism, vitamin B12 deficiency, and HIV infection.

Prevention of memory loss

Bad mood - what to do and why it happens

What to do if there are already memory lapses? If they are not associated with serious diseases, you can do prevention yourself. What to do if memory deteriorates:

• Replenish the deficiency of vitamin B12 and thiamine. Group vitamins are found in large quantities in dairy products, liver, red meat and eggs. Fish and seafood are also rich in vitamin B12. Thiamine is found in legumes, potatoes and spinach. Bran and whole grain flour also contain thiamine;
• Improve your sleep. An adult should sleep at least 7 hours at night, when cell regeneration occurs. If a person sleeps little, he feels anxious, his attention deteriorates;
• Saturate the blood with oxygen: spend more time in the fresh air, engage in physical activity;
• Try new things. What a person already knows how to do does not force the hemispheres of the brain to work or the memory to strain. If a person's work involves logic and thinking, it is necessary to use the creative right hemisphere. You can draw or read literature.

Girl reading in nature

There are simple exercises that can improve memory and brain function:

• Remember more. Many people try not to overload their brains by writing an extra reminder or note. Memory works like muscles: the more load, the stronger it becomes. You can start with the simplest actions: remember the phone number, the name of the interlocutor, learn a poem. It is necessary to control not the quantity, but the quality of the information received;
• Shake up your brain. Simple actions such as walking around the room, finding something, or brushing your teeth should be performed with your eyes closed. At first it will be difficult, over time the brain will quickly turn on and adapt;
• Remember. You need to place an object in front of you that has details, for example, a vase or a painting. Look carefully for 1 minute, then close your eyes and remember all the details: color, shade, shape. The exercise can be repeated with auditory memory, trying to remember the words of the song;
• Focus on the little things. It is not necessary to set aside a separate time; this can be done on the way to work or home. You need to train your brain to notice small details around: a sign, an advertisement, a cat passing by;
• Find associations. It is easier to remember information by building an associative series. For example, the name of the interlocutor may be similar to the name of the actor.

The exercises can be performed by adults and young people. For children, it is advisable to turn them into a game, for example, invite the child to eat an apple with his eyes closed, and learn a rhyme together.

Note! Sometimes a person cannot remember something not because he has a bad memory, but because it is not interesting to him. You need to remember how information related to your favorite activity is remembered. If many terms, phrases and subtleties immediately pop up in your head, there are no serious problems with memory. This also applies to children: a small child will not do something that he does not like.

Why does a person lose memory?

The most common age-related memory impairments are caused by the aging of the body. As many people age, it becomes more difficult for them to remember new information, and their ability to learn and master new skills decreases.

Age-related memory problems lead to slower thinking and forgetfulness. It takes a person more time to remember the necessary information.

For reference. However, mental abilities are not affected (this distinguishes age-related memory problems from memory decline due to dementia, cerebrovascular accidents, or Alzheimer's disease).

Memory problems - what is the name of the disease?

Common causes of memory problems in old age are:

• moderate cognitive impairment;
• senile dementia;
• Alzheimer's disease;

Memory problems associated with mild cognitive impairment are accompanied by impaired short-term memory.

For reference. Problems with short-term memory mean that patients have difficulty remembering the content of a recent conversation, where they put their keys, what they ate for breakfast, and they forget about appointments.

At the same time, working memory is not affected. Patients can perform simple calculations and remember and reproduce short lists of items.

It should be noted that moderate cognitive disorders are considered to be the initial manifestations of damage to the cerebral cortex (most often against the background of chronic cerebrovascular accident). In the absence of timely treatment, mild cognitive impairment transforms into dementia.

For dementia

If a person is diagnosed with dementia, then in addition to memory problems, severe cognitive impairment and behavioral disorders are observed. Mental abilities are also affected.

In addition to persistent forgetfulness, patients experience significant difficulty naming familiar objects and organizing and planning their daily activities. Executive functioning is also impaired (a person is unable to pay his bills or prepare food on his own).

Also a common symptom of dementia is a change in personality, the appearance of previously unusual character traits, constant irritability, aggressiveness, anxiety, and moodiness.

In the later stages of dementia, a person may forget family and friends, not understand where he is, and forget his address and name.

For Alzheimer's disease

Memory problems in Alzheimer's disease progress gradually. At the beginning of the disease, the patient himself can realize and notice his problems. As the disease progresses, a person loses the ability to self-critically assess his condition.

For reference. The first manifestation of memory problems is constant forgetfulness. The patient may tell the same story over and over again, repeat an old joke, and forget about his promises and appointments.

This forgetfulness, as the disease progresses, often leads to patients forgetting to turn off the gas, iron, water, and close the doors.

Also, with Alzheimer's disease, the ability to learn new skills is lost (the patient cannot learn to use a new phone or open a new door lock).

As Alzheimer's disease progresses, memory problems become more severe. Patients forget their name, address, names and faces of loved ones, events that happened to them previously.

There is also indifference to others, sloppiness, lack of self-care, loss of interest in one’s own appearance (patients can walk around with unwashed hair for a long time (weeks), in dirty clothes. Gradually, the ability to self-care is completely lost.

For Parkinson's disease

When a person is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, movement disorders come to the fore. Coordination of movements is impaired, unsteadiness of gait appears, and muscle tone increases. A characteristic symptom is a trembling of the fingers, reminiscent of “counting coins” or “rolling beads.”

For reference. Memory problems, as well as apathy and depressive disorders appear only in the later stages.

Since Parkinson's disease is not characterized by intellectual impairment and severe memory problems, if the patient has these symptoms, the presence of dementia (senile, Alzheimer's) should be suspected.

For multiple sclerosis

Memory problems in multiple sclerosis are combined with:

• decreased intelligence;
• behavior change;
• depressive states;
• tremor and paresis of the limbs;
• violation of superficial and deep sensitivity;
• the appearance of symptoms of dementia;
• cranial nerve palsies (most often the oculomotor, trigeminal, facial and hypoglossal nerves are affected);
• nystagmus (rhythmic horizontal vibrations of the eyeball);
• urinary incontinence;
• erectile dysfunction.

Spastic muscle pain and deterioration in well-being are also often observed after taking a hot bath or against the background of an increase in body temperature.

Where can you improve your memory in St. Petersburg

Where should you go if it becomes clear that memory impairment is affecting your quality of life and you urgently need to take action? Why did my memory deteriorate? A specialist neurologist at our Center for Neurology, Professor Zhulev, can answer these questions.

Make an appointment with a doctor using the phone number listed on the website. If you notice that your ability to remember dates, faces and other data has sharply deteriorated, then you need to undergo an examination and identify the reasons. Don't let your health take its course. If memory has sharply deteriorated, then this is a signal from the body about problems that have arisen, and the sooner the doctor diagnoses them, the better.

We are located in the Central district of St. Petersburg, the work schedule and map can be found in the Contacts section.

What to do if your memory has suddenly deteriorated

A sharp deterioration in memory can be observed against the background of:

• delirium (acute psychosis due to severe infections, intoxication, drug use or drug withdrawal syndrome);
• traumatic brain injuries;
• strokes (both hemorrhagic and ischemic ).

Attention. In this regard, with a sharp decrease in memory, especially combined with headache , vomiting, loss of consciousness, disorientation in space, paralysis or paresis, you should immediately consult a neurologist.

Treatment of memory disorders

Treatment for absent-mindedness largely depends on the cause that led to it. If a person is overtired, he needs to rest. If you have VSD, you must first treat dystonia. When the cause of atherosclerosis is diabetes mellitus, something needs to be done about it.

An absent-minded child should be helped by loving parents and experienced teachers. Teach your child to understand information rather than cram it. Then the memory is not overloaded and attention is not scattered.

Drugs that improve brain function:

• Inteplan;
• Nootropil;
• Glycine;
• Piracetam;
• Picamilon;
• Tanakan;
• Aminalon;
• Many that improve mental performance.

Traditional methods

Grated fresh horseradish with honey and grated lemons perfectly improves memory. Crush five walnut kernels in a mortar and mix with cream.

Mix a tablespoon of dry mint with the same volume of dry sage, pour half a liter of boiling water. Leave for 24 hours, strain, drink 50 ml 4 times a day half an hour before meals.

Nutrition, diet

The diet should be varied. But, if you want to improve your memory, give preference to:

• dried fruits;
• baked potatoes;
• sunflower seeds;
• fresh vegetable salads with olive oil;
• bananas;
• walnuts;
• fresh berries and fruits;
• dark chocolate;
• cottage cheese;
• cheese.

Eliminate alcoholic drinks, fried, smoked, fatty, and excess sweets from your diet.

Diagnostics

If a patient has memory problems, acute delirium and stroke should first be ruled out. It also takes into account whether the patient has had traumatic brain injuries.

For reference. If acute conditions are excluded, an in-depth examination is carried out aimed at assessing the patient’s memory state, the state of his intelligence, the presence of cognitive impairment, depressive states or neuroses.

When examining young patients, it is clarified what their sleep and rest patterns are, and how often they drink alcohol.

Special cards are used to assess the patient's memory.

The patient must quickly examine the card and name the objects depicted on it (the order of memorization does not matter). Normally, you need to remember at least 2/3 of the images.

During the examination, it is important to identify specific signs that are characteristic of different types of dementia. For example:

• parkinsonian tremor and unsteadiness of gait characteristic of Parkinson's disease;
• inability to maintain balance or look up or down with progressive supranuclear palsy;
• choreiform movement disorders due to Huntington's disease;
• impaired fine motor skills and inability to maintain balance due to vitamin B12 deficiency.

For reference. Choreiform movements are involuntary, fast and sweeping, non-rhythmic movements that occur in different parts of the body.

A comprehensive assessment of the patient's mental status is also carried out. His ability to navigate in space and time, the ability to concentrate, the presence of problems with short-term and/or long-term memory, the presence of speech disorders or the ability to understand someone else's speech are assessed.

The patient is also asked to draw a simple picture, name objects in the room, or perform simple tasks.

Educational games for developing memory and attention

Game 1 “Numeric Reach Revolution”

The game "Numeric Span Revolution" develops memory.

The main point of the game is to remember the numbers on the screen and dial them correctly.

In this game, numbers appear on the screen for a few seconds, you need to remember them, then they disappear, you need to type them in an empty window from memory, if you remember the numbers correctly, you move on and score points, but if you typed the numbers incorrectly three times , the game ends.

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Game 2 “Fast addition reload”

The game “Fast addition reboot” develops thinking, memory and attention.

The main point of the game is to choose the correct terms, the sum of which will be equal to the given number.

In this game, three numbers are given on the screen and a task is given, add the number, the screen indicates which number needs to be added. You select two numbers from three numbers and press them. If you answered correctly, then you score points and play further.

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Game 3 "Letter Span"

The game “Letter Span” develops memory and attention. The main essence of the game is to remember the letters and write them.

In this game, numbers appear on the screen for a few seconds; you need to remember them, then they disappear and you need to write them from memory; you can write letters using the keyboard. If you answered correctly, you score points and continue playing.

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Game 4 "Number 3 back"

The game “Number 3 Backwards” develops memory.

The main essence of the game is to remember the sequence of numbers and compare the number on the last card with the previous card.

In this game, cards with numbers are given, you must remember the sequence of numbers that was shown on the screen and compare the number of the last card with the previous card. Read the question on the screen carefully. If you answer correctly, you score points and continue playing.

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Game 5 “Memorize and call”

The game “Memorize and Call” develops memory and attention.

The main point of the game is to remember the numbers in the table and call them in ascending order.

In this game, a table with numbers is given, first the numbers are shown on the screen, you need to remember them, then the numbers are covered. Remember where the smallest number is located and click on that cell, then click on the cell where the next number goes in ascending order. Read the questions on the screen carefully.

If you answered correctly, you score points and continue playing.

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Game 6 “Numerical Reach”

The game "Number Span" develops memory and attention.

The main point of the game is to remember the previous number and compare it with the current one on the screen.

In this game, numbers are shown; you need to remember them and type them in an empty window; if you remember the numbers correctly, you move on and score points, but if you type the numbers incorrectly three times, the game ends.

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Game 7 "Number 2 back"

The game “Number 2 Back” develops memory and attention.

The main essence of the game is to remember the entire sequence of numbers and compare the number on the last card with the previous one on the screen.

The screen shows cards with numbers, you need to remember the numbers of the previous cards and compare them with the cards that are now on the screen. If the cards match, then answer “yes”; if the cards do not match, then answer “no”. If you answer incorrectly three times, the game ends; if you answer correctly, continue playing.

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Game 8 “Memory Matrix”

The game "Memory Matrices" develops memory and attention.

The main essence of the game is to reproduce the position of the shaded figures.

In each round, a playing field consisting of cells is shown, a certain number of cells are filled in, the rest is left free. You need to remember the location of these cells and repeat their position after they have disappeared on the screen. If you check the boxes correctly, you score points and move on.

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Game 9 "Spatial speed comparison"

The game “Spatial Speed ​​Comparison” develops memory and attention.

The main essence of the game is a series of drawings on the screen; you need to compare them with the previous drawing and answer whether it is repeated or not.

In this game, a figure appears on the screen, you have to remember it, then it disappears and another figure appears. Compare the figure on the screen with the previous figure. You can answer using the “yes” and “no” buttons below. If you answer correctly, you score points and play further.

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Game 10 “Find a Pair”

The game “Find a Pair” develops memory and attention.

The main point of the game is to find a picture of a twin.

In this game there is a field filled with different pictures, you need to find and mark the picture that has a twin picture. If you mark correctly, you score points and move on to play.

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How to treat memory problems

Treatment depends on the underlying disease causing memory impairment. For example, if a patient has mild cognitive impairment, donepezil may be used.

For moderate and severe forms of dementia, NMDA antagonist drugs or Memantyl are used.

Donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine, memantine and others are used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

If memory impairment is associated with depression, a course of antidepressants is selected.

For mild memory loss in young patients associated with fatigue, nootropics and mildronate may be prescribed.

Nutrition

Health, quality of brain activity, appearance, mood - all this depends on what a person eats. Proper nutrition has a direct impact on every aspect of life. It is very important that it be varied and complete. If you regularly eat unhealthy food, then after a few days you may feel a deterioration in your condition, as well as a decrease in your memory level.

The presence in food of all components necessary for the body guarantees that a person’s memory will work harder. Proteins, fats and carbohydrates are responsible for the functioning of the brain, which once again proves their importance. The diet should also include:

• Vitamins (A, B, E);
• Iron;
• Iodine;
• Magnesium;
• Zinc.

They help not only maintain memory, but also eliminate forgetfulness, which can arise out of the blue. But what foods exactly should you eat?

Meat, fish, seafood

According to doctors, upsetting vegetarians, it is necessary to eat meat. It is beneficial for the whole body. Meat improves memory because... it contains a large number of components that have a positive effect on the brain. The most useful: chicken, beef, veal liver. They contain a lot of vitamin B and iron, which are so necessary for the body.

Fish, especially sea fish, is rich in Omega-3 acid, which has a positive effect on brain function and the ability to remember any information. Equally important is seafood, which also has a major impact on overall health. You can get the maximum benefit from salmon, tuna, herring, oysters, shrimp, and mussels.

Vegetables

Cabbage and spinach contain a large amount of vitamins and acids that will help strengthen memory. They also reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Tomatoes will have a similar effect due to the presence of lycopene. It removes dangerous radicals from the body, which prevents damage to neurons responsible for memory.

Garlic and onions are also very effective in improving attention and memory. They normalize blood circulation and help reduce the likelihood of deterioration in brain function in the future. You can use them at any age, limiting yourself to a couple of cloves or rings. It is especially important for older people to consume these vegetables.

Fruits, berries

Loving sweet fruits or berries is much healthier than many people think. They protect neurons, normalize blood circulation, saturate the body with all the necessary vitamins and minerals, help awaken interest in the world around them, and also increase learning ability, which makes them especially important for preschool children and adolescents.

Particular attention should be paid to the following fruits and berries:

• Red apples;
• Citrus fruits (lemons, oranges);
• Bananas;
• Blueberry;
• Blueberry;
• Grape;
• Black currant.

They can be consumed every day. However, it is worth considering that an excess of some components can cause discomfort or minor health problems.

It is also useful to include nuts, honey, eggs, milk, coffee, and sage tea in your diet in reasonable quantities.