For example, if you have slept poorly, had much to do or are stressed, it can temporarily affect your memory. The hassles usually go over if you take it easy, feel good and sleep well. But if on a number of occasions, you have had a harder time remembering things than before, they may be signs of a disease, such as depression or dementia.
If you have less memory, it is important to sleep properly first and foremost to avoid stress. It is good to eat a varied, nutritious diet and avoid alcohol in large quantities. There is no cure for memory problems alone, but if the inconvenience is due to any illness, treatment is given for it.
Symptoms of Memory Disorders
Early signs of memory disorders may be that you forget simple appointments such as times and places for meetings. It is more difficult to plan, have the foresight and get involved. This can lead to problems in managing your work and other activities as before, such as paying bills or planning and doing housework.
What can I do for myself?
If you notice that the memory or other brain functions are not as they usually are, you should, first of all, make sure you are in balance and feeling good. You should try to sleep well and not stress. If you have a so-called fatigue depression, sleep is especially important for the memory to get better again.
In many older people, loneliness and lack of stimulation are a common cause of memory problems. Therefore, you should try to have contact with relatives, friends or other people. Many people find it nice to have an order and find out their everyday life and to have something to do every day. By being active you can reduce the risk of memory problems.
Diet is also important. Varied and well-composed foods allow you to avoid vitamin deficiencies, which can damage brain cells and, among other things, lead to impaired memory. Alcohol in excessive amounts is a well-known cause of brain damage and memory problems.
When should I seek care?
To get a guide on how you or a loved one is doing, you can ask some simple questions:
- Does memory work as well as before?
- Does the ability to solve problems, think, reason and plan work so that I or my loved ones can cope with daily life?
- Is the mood and mood as it usually is?
If the answers to any of these questions indicate that you are not feeling well, you should contact a doctor.
Don’t wait too long
If the problems with memory and thinking ability do not go away even if you have taken it easy, measured well and slept well for a period, you should primarily consult your doctor at the health care center or the equivalent. In places with larger hospitals, there are often special memory facilities that you can also turn to.
You can seek care at any healthcare center you want throughout the country. You also have the opportunity to have a regular doctor’s contact at the health center.
Investigations
You will need to undergo an examination to explain why you have had the trouble. If you have memory difficulties that affect your life, do not wait to see a doctor.
You will be examined on an open reception if there are no specific reasons for having to be admitted to a hospital, such as having other illnesses that require hospital care or are very worried and confused. Most often, a dementia study is done by a doctor at the health center in collaboration with a specialist on mental illnesses, neurological or mental illnesses.
Several different studies are done:
- First, the whole body is examined. The doctor pays special attention to the brain. Memory functions, thought functions and visual, language and emotion functions are tested.
- Blood samples are taken to check the metabolism, calcium levels, and vitamin B12 content. If you have a low metabolism, too high levels of calcium or lack of vitamin B12, it can impair brain functions.
- Sometimes you may also undergo a brain X-ray, a so-called computed tomography, or a magnetic camera examination. The studies can show if there are some morbid changes in the brain.
- Sometimes the fluid that surrounds and protects the brain is also examined. This fluid is also found in the spinal cord in the spine. A sample is taken through a stick at the back end. The test can reveal if there are proteins that have leaked from damaged nerve cells or if you have an infection that is behind the symptoms.
- You may also want to go to a psychologist and do various tests.
An important part of the survey is your story about how you feel you are, what has happened and what memory problems you have. The doctor needs to understand what the problems are and how they have developed. The own story provides information and guidance on what illness may be causing memory disorders.
A right to receive information
You will need to know who to contact and when to find out the answers after sampling and surveys. You should also find out where to turn if you get worse.
The healthcare staff should tell you what treatment options are available. They should make sure you understand what the different options mean, what side effects are available and where you can get treatment. This way you can help decide which treatment is right for you.
In order for you to be active in your care and make decisions, it is important that you understand the information you receive. The healthcare staff is obliged to make sure that you do so. Ask questions. You can also ask to have the information written down so you can read it peacefully.
Treatment for Memory Disorders
There are no drugs that help only against memory problems. Nevertheless, you should still seek care, as the inconvenience may have been caused by a disease that needs to be treated. If there is early-onset dementia in the form of Alzheimer’s disease behind, there are opportunities to relieve the symptoms with drugs.
What is the reason for memory disorders?
The ability to remember is controlled from several different parts of the brain. The brain’s temporal lobes are especially important for you to learn and remember things.
Causes of memory disorders can be
- STRESS
- Depression
- bodily disorders or diseases such as confusion , a brain tumor , a brain infection or vitamin deficiency
- dementia diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease , blood vessel dementia , Lewy Body dementia or head lobe dementia .