Memory Loss by Nicolle Mitchell

Now what did I come in this room for……

Memory loss is not just the affliction of the more mature among us. I have senior moments on a regular basis. It can affect any age, & it can affect either your long or short term memory.

Stress is one of the most common causes of memory loss, as is often experienced with exam nerves. This is a short term problem though, & it is when you are under prolonged stress that chronic problems occur. The stress hormone cortisol attacks the part of the brain which is involved with memory storage especially short term memory. Brain scans of war veterans, long term depression sufferers, post traumatic stress sufferers & victims of childhood abuse show this part of the brain as more wasted away than it should be.

Other disorders can cause havoc to the memory, e.g. schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, Huntingdon’s & Parkinson’s diseases, brain tumours, stroke, epilepsy, heart failure & in particular diabetes. Even people who are not diabetic but are borderline can be affected.

Sugar has been well documented as affecting your learning capacity, clarity of thought, your heart & circulation, blood sugar problems, Alzheimer’s & depression. Is it a coincidence that there seems to be a link between the types of illness associated with high sugar consumption & those which go on to cause problems with your memory? As sugar is an anti-nutrient, most likely it makes complete sense that there seems to be a connection. My advice is to check labels on ALL your food & opt for less processed food wherever you can.

The menopause can be linked to poor memory as can hypo-thyroidism.

Some people are ultra sensitive to Electro-magnetic Fields caused by the electrical appliances we use, mobile phones & mast transmitters. This can affect cognitive functions including memory in some people according to some studies. One tip is to turn off your mobile phone when it is not in use as it transmits about every 12 seconds or so. Also remember to turn off all your electrical appliances at the plug & save yourself some money on your electric bills too.

Drugs can affect your memory too. Heavy cannabis use & long term use of ecstasy can particularly affect your memory. However, even when you stop using ecstasy, the memory loss can continue.

Alcohol in the short term can cause blackouts after a binge, but worryingly the brain is more affected in youths than adults. On the other hand mild to moderate amounts of alcohol, i.e. 1-4 drinks a day actually reduce the risk of developing severe memory loss. Red wine is particularly noted as a drink which is good for your circulation & therefore good for aiding oxygen & nutrients getting to your brain. A glass of white wine a day or a small bunch of grapes daily can also help reduce the chances of you getting Alzheimer’s.

Prescribed drugs also come with their problems. Recent studies on widely prescribed statins used to help reduce cholesterol, have shown that in some individuals, memory problems are being reported.

Tranquillisers, prednisolone, some epilepsy drugs like Zonegran, some Parkinsons drugs like levadopa, & anti-depressants like Prozac can muddle thinking & affect your memory. Cocktails of drugs & drug interactions can raise the risk of poor memory. Fluoride & pesticides are also indicated in poor memory.

So what else can you so other than the tips I have already mentioned? Well there are a number of things which are wise to consider:

• Gingko Biloba is great for the memory & for improving circulation. The tincture is best as it is easily absorbed by the body. 120mg day can help restore memory, concentration & mood in 60-80year olds. See www.tlcinabottle.co.uk for supplies.
• Ginseng is another herbal tincture which can improve memory speed tasks. RDA is 400mg daily.
• Brahmi (gotu kola) is a proven Ayervedic memory enhancer.
• A good liquid multi vitamin can help provide you with any lack of nutrients you may need. I sell a tasty blend called Energeticum which is particularly useful for those under stress. It helps replace some of the vitamins which stress destroys. See www.tlcinabottle.co.uk for supplies.
• If you are even slightly deficient in iron it will impair your memory. See www.tlcinabottle.co.uk for supplies of Floradix Liquid Iron.
• Rosemary essential oil may help improve the memory. This is because it also stimulates the circulation. A tip my fellow students & I used during our exams was to use certain essential oils while we studied & then use them during the exam. It helped us to relax & improved recall.

Copyright 2009 Nicolle Mitchell CThA, I.T.E.C. Dip. Health Therapist & Massage Specialist
www.tlcinabottle.co.uk