When most people experience memory loss, their minds go racing towards the extreme and they start thinking that they have Dementia or Alzheimer’s.

That is rarely the case. The following are some common causes of memory loss:

Sleep Deprivation

The importance of sleep to health cannot be overstated. When you are not getting enough sleep, many negative things happen to your body including memory loss.

When you are short on sleep, you may develop mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. These may further exacerbate memory loss.

Medicine

It is estimated that 44% of Americans take prescription medication every day. Some of these medicines have adverse effects including memory loss.

It does not matter whether they are antidepressants, blood pressure, or weight loss pills, you should ensure you find out the side effects of every medication you are taking. If you think any of your medicines are affecting your memory you should talk to your doctor.

Thyroid Disorder

An underactive thyroid gland may also be the cause of memory loss. When it affects your sleep, it can cause a vicious negative feedback loop whose effects will include memory loss.

The good news is that all you need is a blood test and you will know whether your thyroid is the cause of your memory loss.

Alcohol

Many of us have had an alcohol-filled night that we did not recall the next day. The effects of alcohol on memory can get a lot more serious than forgetting your regrets.

Alcohol can interfere with your short-term memory even when the effects of the alcohol have long since worn off. You should try drinking less alcohol or even, better giving it up altogether.

Reduce your intake in small increments and see how it affects your sleep. If you reach a point where you can drink and still sleep soundly, you can decide to maintain that intake.

Mental Health Issues

Your brain’s health is inextricably linked to your memory. Any disorder that makes it difficult for you to focus on and learn novel things will undoubtedly affect your memory.

Stress and anxiety are two mental health disorders that have been shown to affect memory. They both interfere with the formation of new memories and the retrieval of past times.

Memory loss could also be a sign or a consequence of depression. The worse the depression, the worse the memory lapses will be.

Luckily mental health patients have been known to recover their memories with therapy. It will take varying amounts of time depending on the severity of the memory loss.

As you can see, there are many possible causes of memory loss. They may work single-handedly or in combination, which is worse. If you have memory loss issues visit the Neurology Center in New Jersey for Epilepsy and Seizures.