Eight Symptoms to Watch for to Prevent Memory Loss

Sometimes, you may feel like you are losing your mind (memory loss). Do not panic. There are more causes of memory loss than Alzheimer’s disease. Here are eight symptoms to watch for to safeguard your memory.

1. Your brain will not perform well when you do not have enough sleep because your brain places new memory while you sleep. Do not pull all-nighters for tests. Micro-sleep may help boost short-term memory. However, you should make sure that you have at least eight hours of sleep daily for better memory health.

2. You may have sleep apnea if you snore and constantly feel exhausted during the day. Your airway may be blocked during sleep and cut off oxygen to the brain cells. Talk to your doctor to test for apnea and may need to use a device to keep constant flow of air while you sleep.

3. You may have vitamin B12 deficiency if you are over 65 years old and feel hazy. This may look a lot like Alzheimer’s disease. However, about 20 percents of people over 65 are low in B12 because as you age, your body has difficulty in absorbing vitamin B12. Ask your doctor to check for your B12 level and you may need a supplement.

4. You should be tested regularly if your family has high blood sugar or diabetes history. High blood sugar may damage part of the brain deal with memory. So eat well and stay active like energetic walking.

5. Your thyroid is acting up if you feel agitated or sluggish. Woman has higher risk of hypothyroidism. Report to your doctor about any bothersome symptoms.

6. You lose brain cells when you are depressed. However, study show memory improved after mood change. Therefore, be happy and stay healthy.

7. Your brain may be swelled with too much spinal fluid if you shuffle when you walk, incontinence, and have memory problems. Talk to your doctor. Prompt treatment may give you better chance to improve your memory.

8. Some drugs may interfere with brain chemicals. Many prescribe and over the counter drugs can cause forgetfulness. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you feel fuzziness after starting a new drug. Make sure your doctor knows all of the medicines you are taking, including over the counter drugs.

See another physician for second or third opinion if you talked to your doctor about any of those symptoms and he/she dismissed those signs for any reason. If you are 65 or older, it is vital to find the underlying cause of the problem early. The earlier the treatment, the better chance of your memory improvement.

These are only suggestions signs and causes of memory loss. You must talk to your doctor and be tested so that s/he can prescribe a correction treatment for your particular problem. Take good care of your memory health.