I decided to do memory loss, because I personally have seen how memory loss affected not only our family but so many people. My uncle had lost almost all of his memory, in a split second and we have been blessed that almost all of his memory has returned.
During this research project I have looked into things that can affect the person, positively and negatively. I have looked into what happens to the brain that leads to memory loss and where in the brain all of this happens. I reflected on how this affects the family and friends of a person who has lost their memory. I have found treatments and medication that can be used to prevent or lessen the symptoms, both medically and natural.
With the use of videos, charts, pictures, and recent research papers, I have learned so much. This has also sparked more of an interest into looking at what might have happened to my uncle.
Memory loss may be something that can't be completely prevented nor completely cured, but it is something that I and I believe others should be doing more research on.
I'm very glad that we could do this project!
-Cassidy
What to avoid, to avoid Memory Loss!
Some types of prescription drugs have been found to increase the chances of having memory loss. There are 3 specific categories of drugs:
The "Anti" Drug:
These include antihistamines, antidepressants, antipsychotics, antibiotics, antispasmodics, or antihypertensive, it’s likely that these will affect your acetylcholine levels. Acetylcholine is the primary neurotransmitter involved with memory and learning.
Sleeping Pills:
Prescription sleeping pills are notorious for causing memory loss.
Statin Drugs:
These cholesterol-lowering medications could be the single worst group of drugs for your brain. Memory loss is now required to be listed as a side effect on the label. The reason for all of this is that one-quarter of your brain is made up of cholesterol. Cholesterol is necessary for memory, learning, and fast thinking.
Trying to avoid some of these prescription drugs may be difficult, but if it is possible to avoid them it will increase your chances of not getting memory loss.
Just like the fact there is foods to prevent or help out with memory loss, there is also food that increase the chances of memory loss or worsen memory. They include:
1. Trans Fats
2. Saturated Fats
3. Added Sugar
4. Syrups
Lots of times these foods slow down the production of our brains. Which decreases our brain activity. Which in return makes us more acceptable to memory loss.
The "Anti" Drug:
These include antihistamines, antidepressants, antipsychotics, antibiotics, antispasmodics, or antihypertensive, it’s likely that these will affect your acetylcholine levels. Acetylcholine is the primary neurotransmitter involved with memory and learning.
Sleeping Pills:
Prescription sleeping pills are notorious for causing memory loss.
Statin Drugs:
These cholesterol-lowering medications could be the single worst group of drugs for your brain. Memory loss is now required to be listed as a side effect on the label. The reason for all of this is that one-quarter of your brain is made up of cholesterol. Cholesterol is necessary for memory, learning, and fast thinking.
Trying to avoid some of these prescription drugs may be difficult, but if it is possible to avoid them it will increase your chances of not getting memory loss.
Just like the fact there is foods to prevent or help out with memory loss, there is also food that increase the chances of memory loss or worsen memory. They include:
1. Trans Fats
2. Saturated Fats
3. Added Sugar
4. Syrups
Lots of times these foods slow down the production of our brains. Which decreases our brain activity. Which in return makes us more acceptable to memory loss.
Natural Ways to Prevent Memory Loss
The most natural way to prevent memory loss is food!
What you can do is reach for more “brain foods”—foods rich in protective nutrients, such as antioxidants, B vitamins, anti-inflammatory oils and spices.
Types of foods such as:
-Fruits -Vegetables -Nuts -Blueberries -Salmon -Mackerel -Eggs -Apples
-Tumeric -Oatmeal -High-fibre -Whole grains -Leafy greens -Lentils
When you eat enough of these foods, your brain collects antioxidants, and this offers protection to various parts of the brain, including the hippocampus. Healthy fats in the diet benefit your brain, and it is show that high blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids are associated with preserved brain function. Eggs are one the most important on the list because they are one of the few foods known to contain choline, the vitamin-like compound that cells need to function properly. Choline appears to be crucial to the development of the hippocampus. Oatmeal, high-fiber, and whole grains release glucose slowly into the body, the brain uses glucose as a source of energy, and a steady flow appears to help the brain retain information for tasks that require memory skills.
A study was done on a natural way to reverse memory loss or increase memory. A team of researchers have found that increasing dietary cocoa flavanols can improve brain function in this region, and even lead to better scores in memory tests. Flavanols are chemicals found in raw, unprocessed cocoa beans as well as some other plant material. The team’s next step is to replicate this experiment with a larger group of test subjects in order to better understand the relationship between flavanols, the hippocampus, and memory. Chocolate is not a great source of these flavonoids, as there is very little flavonoids in chocolate and a large amount of chocolate is not good for your health.
http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/cocoas-flavanols-reverse-age-related-memory-decline
What you can do is reach for more “brain foods”—foods rich in protective nutrients, such as antioxidants, B vitamins, anti-inflammatory oils and spices.
Types of foods such as:
-Fruits -Vegetables -Nuts -Blueberries -Salmon -Mackerel -Eggs -Apples
-Tumeric -Oatmeal -High-fibre -Whole grains -Leafy greens -Lentils
When you eat enough of these foods, your brain collects antioxidants, and this offers protection to various parts of the brain, including the hippocampus. Healthy fats in the diet benefit your brain, and it is show that high blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids are associated with preserved brain function. Eggs are one the most important on the list because they are one of the few foods known to contain choline, the vitamin-like compound that cells need to function properly. Choline appears to be crucial to the development of the hippocampus. Oatmeal, high-fiber, and whole grains release glucose slowly into the body, the brain uses glucose as a source of energy, and a steady flow appears to help the brain retain information for tasks that require memory skills.
A study was done on a natural way to reverse memory loss or increase memory. A team of researchers have found that increasing dietary cocoa flavanols can improve brain function in this region, and even lead to better scores in memory tests. Flavanols are chemicals found in raw, unprocessed cocoa beans as well as some other plant material. The team’s next step is to replicate this experiment with a larger group of test subjects in order to better understand the relationship between flavanols, the hippocampus, and memory. Chocolate is not a great source of these flavonoids, as there is very little flavonoids in chocolate and a large amount of chocolate is not good for your health.
http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/cocoas-flavanols-reverse-age-related-memory-decline
Family and Friends
Memory loss not only affects the patient, but it also affects their families and friends. What if one day someone that means the world to you; your father, sister, mother, wife, or husband, forgot your guys' daily life, routines, how old you are, or even forget who you are entirely. This would be a struggle for anyone. Depression among family and friends of memory loss is common and many times they see withdrawal from society and in general everything they "use" to do with the patient. Many times they see family members become main caretakers of the patient which leaves them under extreme stress and can lead to other problems because of worry.
Friends can be lost and with memory loss you may see the patients personality change or their decisions on what types of people and things they enjoy could change. This may affect your friendship with the patient. This too, could lead to stress problems, depression, and may lead to a withdrawal from society.
A great example of how our family can be affected is in "The Vow", with the wife losing her memory and in turn forgetting her husband. This obviously effects the husband.
Friends can be lost and with memory loss you may see the patients personality change or their decisions on what types of people and things they enjoy could change. This may affect your friendship with the patient. This too, could lead to stress problems, depression, and may lead to a withdrawal from society.
A great example of how our family can be affected is in "The Vow", with the wife losing her memory and in turn forgetting her husband. This obviously effects the husband.
Treatments and Medication
Treatments and Medication:
Memory loss has so many different reasons and every reason is treated differently. For example memory loss because of stress may be resolved by decreasing the stress level in your life and monitoring your amount hormone fluctuation within the brain. One thing that is a common between all of the reasons and their treatments is patience. With memory loss treatments and medication it is all about waiting to see whether you regain you memory back or if you are capable of creating new memories.
There is no actual treatment to memory loss that may occur because of tragic events such as a blockage to the brain or pressure to the brain. Once the blockage or pressure is relieved and your brain is back to full potential. It is then just waiting, to see if any of your memory comes back. Worse case scenario, would be permanent damage. Which would mean permanent memory loss.
One of the only reasons for memory loss that has specific medication that you can take is Alzheimer's. This is because Alzheimer's deals with a specific part of the brain and doctors have been able to study this disease to create medication. Although current medications cannot cure Alzheimer’s or stop it from progressing, the medication may help lessen symptoms, such as memory loss and confusion, for a limited time. There are different types of medication for different parts of the disease:
Medication for early to moderate stages: All of the prescription medications currently approved to treat Alzheimer’s symptoms in early to moderate stages are from a class of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors. They treat symptoms related to memory, thinking, language, judgment and other thought processes. Commonly prescribed cholinesterase inhibitors are Donepezil, Rivastigmine, and Galantamine.
Medication for moderate to severe Alzheimer’s: A second type of medication, memantine (Namenda) is approved by the FDA for treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer’s. These improve memory, attention, reason, language and the ability to perform simple tasks. Donepezil (Aricept) is the only cholinesterase inhibitor approved to treat all stages of Alzheimer’s disease, including moderate to severe.
Doctors sometimes prescribe vitamin E to treat cognitive Alzheimer's symptoms. Vitamin E, also known as alpha tocopherol, is an antioxidant. Antioxidants may protect brain cells and other body tissues from certain kinds of chemical wear and tear.
Memory loss has so many different reasons and every reason is treated differently. For example memory loss because of stress may be resolved by decreasing the stress level in your life and monitoring your amount hormone fluctuation within the brain. One thing that is a common between all of the reasons and their treatments is patience. With memory loss treatments and medication it is all about waiting to see whether you regain you memory back or if you are capable of creating new memories.
There is no actual treatment to memory loss that may occur because of tragic events such as a blockage to the brain or pressure to the brain. Once the blockage or pressure is relieved and your brain is back to full potential. It is then just waiting, to see if any of your memory comes back. Worse case scenario, would be permanent damage. Which would mean permanent memory loss.
One of the only reasons for memory loss that has specific medication that you can take is Alzheimer's. This is because Alzheimer's deals with a specific part of the brain and doctors have been able to study this disease to create medication. Although current medications cannot cure Alzheimer’s or stop it from progressing, the medication may help lessen symptoms, such as memory loss and confusion, for a limited time. There are different types of medication for different parts of the disease:
Medication for early to moderate stages: All of the prescription medications currently approved to treat Alzheimer’s symptoms in early to moderate stages are from a class of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors. They treat symptoms related to memory, thinking, language, judgment and other thought processes. Commonly prescribed cholinesterase inhibitors are Donepezil, Rivastigmine, and Galantamine.
Medication for moderate to severe Alzheimer’s: A second type of medication, memantine (Namenda) is approved by the FDA for treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer’s. These improve memory, attention, reason, language and the ability to perform simple tasks. Donepezil (Aricept) is the only cholinesterase inhibitor approved to treat all stages of Alzheimer’s disease, including moderate to severe.
Doctors sometimes prescribe vitamin E to treat cognitive Alzheimer's symptoms. Vitamin E, also known as alpha tocopherol, is an antioxidant. Antioxidants may protect brain cells and other body tissues from certain kinds of chemical wear and tear.
Memory in the Brain
Memory in the Brain
Memory is found in all parts of our body. We have muscle memory. Our body alone can store memory; in our cells and our tissues. Then there is our main control panel the brain.
The brain holds all of our short term and our long term memories. It is the most important part of our memory.
The brain has two sides the left side and the right side which are both bilateral symmetrical. It also has 6 sections. The section of the brain that contains our memory is the cerebrum. It is the largest section of our brain. It is one of the most important as it is home to many major subcortical structures.
The cerebrum refers to the parts of the brain containing the cerebral cortex (of the two cerebral hemispheres), as well as several subcortical structures. The most important to memory and the loss of memory is the hippocampus's.
Due to bilateral symmetry the brain has a hippocampus in each cerebral hemisphere, so every normal brain has two of them. If damage to the hippocampus occurs in only one hemisphere, leaving the structure intact in the other hemisphere, the brain can retain near-normal memory functioning. Severe damage to the hippocampi in both hemispheres results in profound difficulties in forming new memories (anterograde amnesia) and often also affects memories formed before the damage occurred.
Memory is found in all parts of our body. We have muscle memory. Our body alone can store memory; in our cells and our tissues. Then there is our main control panel the brain.
The brain holds all of our short term and our long term memories. It is the most important part of our memory.
The brain has two sides the left side and the right side which are both bilateral symmetrical. It also has 6 sections. The section of the brain that contains our memory is the cerebrum. It is the largest section of our brain. It is one of the most important as it is home to many major subcortical structures.The cerebrum refers to the parts of the brain containing the cerebral cortex (of the two cerebral hemispheres), as well as several subcortical structures. The most important to memory and the loss of memory is the hippocampus's.
Due to bilateral symmetry the brain has a hippocampus in each cerebral hemisphere, so every normal brain has two of them. If damage to the hippocampus occurs in only one hemisphere, leaving the structure intact in the other hemisphere, the brain can retain near-normal memory functioning. Severe damage to the hippocampi in both hemispheres results in profound difficulties in forming new memories (anterograde amnesia) and often also affects memories formed before the damage occurred.
Tests for Memory Loss
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| This MRI is of a brain prior to and then after a tragic event in which the patient has developed memory loss. As the results show, the hippocampus has shrunk and is strongly affected. The memory loss is serious as both sides are damaged. |
1) Neurological Examination
2) Cognitive Testing and Assessment
|
3) Neuropsychological Tests
|
4) Psychological Evaluation and Testing
5) Electroencephalogram (EEG)
6) History and Physical Exam
7) Mental Status Examination
8) CT and/or MRI Scan of the Brain
|
 |
Who is commonly affected by memory loss?
Who is commonly affected by memory loss?
Everyone at any age can be affected by memory loss. Most of the causes, beside natural accidents such as falls or traumatic incidents are closely related to age and general health. In recent studies they have found that there has been more and more cases of young adults showing increase in memory loss. It still is even more common to see elder people have common memory loss problems, especially in the form of Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at Gallup and the University of California, Los Angeles, did a study that shows that certain lifestyle factors may lead to early onset of memory problems. The study focused on lifestyle factors known to contribute to early onset of or contributing to memory loss these included depression, a lower education level, being physically inactive, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and smoking. With over 18,500 individuals, ages 18 to 99, the results were unsurprising. (Shown in diagram)
http://www.medicaldaily.com/memory-loss-young-adults-problem-too-depression-poor-education-and-physical-inactivity-increase-risk
We are seeing a significant increase in the memory loss within younger adults. The common between these young adults are they share most or all the lifestyle factors that were listed above.
Everyone at any age can be affected by memory loss. Most of the causes, beside natural accidents such as falls or traumatic incidents are closely related to age and general health. In recent studies they have found that there has been more and more cases of young adults showing increase in memory loss. It still is even more common to see elder people have common memory loss problems, especially in the form of Alzheimer's disease.
http://www.medicaldaily.com/memory-loss-young-adults-problem-too-depression-poor-education-and-physical-inactivity-increase-risk
We are seeing a significant increase in the memory loss within younger adults. The common between these young adults are they share most or all the lifestyle factors that were listed above.
What happens? And Why?
What happens? And Why?
Your memory lives in the cerebrum part of your brain. Which is the largest section of your brain, it makes up 85% of the brain's weight.
The hippocampus plays an important role in the formation of new memories about experienced events. Damage to the hippocampus does not affect some types of memory, such as the ability to learn new skills but instead affects our stored memories. There are two separate hemispheric sections to the hippocampus. One on either side of the brain. Miraculously if one side of the hippocampus is damaged or cut off from its blood supply the other can work normally and our memory is barely or not at all affected. If both sides are damaged or cut off from its blood supply even by the slightest bit our memory can be affected significantly.
Emotional experiences and events are somewhat fragile and take a while to be completely set into memory. This slow process, referred to as consolidation, allows emotions to influence the way the memory is stored. This is considered memory consolidation.
When this part of the brain loses blood or is majorly damaged in any sorts the possibility of either or both short and long term memory loss chances will increase significantly.
There are many different reasons for memory loss, most cause short term and need extremely severe circumstances to cause long term memory loss. Some of the more common causes include:
A) Alzheimer's Disease
B) Concussion or Traumatic Brain Injury
C) Stroke
D) Seizures
E) Brain Tumors
F) Epilepsy Overview
Your memory lives in the cerebrum part of your brain. Which is the largest section of your brain, it makes up 85% of the brain's weight.
The hippocampus plays an important role in the formation of new memories about experienced events. Damage to the hippocampus does not affect some types of memory, such as the ability to learn new skills but instead affects our stored memories. There are two separate hemispheric sections to the hippocampus. One on either side of the brain. Miraculously if one side of the hippocampus is damaged or cut off from its blood supply the other can work normally and our memory is barely or not at all affected. If both sides are damaged or cut off from its blood supply even by the slightest bit our memory can be affected significantly.
Emotional experiences and events are somewhat fragile and take a while to be completely set into memory. This slow process, referred to as consolidation, allows emotions to influence the way the memory is stored. This is considered memory consolidation.
 |
| Memories are started as Sensory Information form our outer nervous system, and they automatically become short-term memories. With excessive rehearsal and through Consolidation the memories become long-term memories. |
When this part of the brain loses blood or is majorly damaged in any sorts the possibility of either or both short and long term memory loss chances will increase significantly.
There are many different reasons for memory loss, most cause short term and need extremely severe circumstances to cause long term memory loss. Some of the more common causes include:
A) Alzheimer's Disease
B) Concussion or Traumatic Brain Injury
C) Stroke
D) Seizures
E) Brain Tumors
F) Epilepsy Overview
Memory Loss?
Memory Loss?
Memory loss commonly known as amnesia is defines as unusual forgetfulness. People may not be able to remember new events, recall one or more memories of the past, or both. Memory Loss can be reoccurring. Although most of the time people will regain parts of or all of their memory back, there are also cases in which the person never regains their memory. There are two main types of memory loss:
a) Long Term Memory is defined as difficulty remembering events that occurred further in the past. When a patient has long-term memory loss, they have problems recalling stored memories, not creating new memories.
b) Short Term Memory is defined as the temporary or complete loss of the actual short-term memory which holds a small amount of information that a person needs temporarily, such as a list of things to buy at the grocery store.
In Finding Nemo, Dory has short term memory loss.
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