Short Term Memory Loss Overview

People with short-term memory loss have difficulty remembering information they just received. Moreover, numerous physical and psychological conditions can cause short-term memory loss, and the treatment will depend on the cause.

In essence, short-term memory refers to information that people can remember for a short period of time immediately after receiving it.

What is Short Term Memory?

Short-term memory refers to the memory systems in the brain involved in remembering pieces of information for a short period of time, often up to 30 seconds.

Specifically, short-term memory creates a kind of “visuospatial” sketch of information the brain has recently absorbed and will process into memories later on. By some estimates, short-term memory can hold around seven items of information at one time.

Furthermore, information can move from short-term memory into long-term memory, where the brain permanently stores the information for future recall when necessary.

Interestingly, long-term memory does not seem to have a specific limit or maximum capacity. In fact, information held in long-term memory is usually related to how a person performs a skill, or to rules, events, facts, and concepts.

On a related note, short-term memory and working memory are sometimes thought of as the same thing, but they are not.

Moreover, short-term memory is the memory systems involved in the temporary holding of pieces of information. Therefore, working memory refers to the brain processes that allow the manipulation and use of stored information.

What is Short Term Memory Loss?

Short-term memory loss, or short-term memory impairment, is when someone cannot retain information in the short term, or, conversely, forgets information they have just received.

Sporadically forgetting pieces of new information, for instance, happens to almost everyone. Indeed, it is especially easy to forget new information if someone is not completely paying attention, is distracted, or does not make a concerted effort to remember the information.

Moreover, people should be aware that mild forgetfulness is also a typical part of aging. That said, when someone forgets important information frequently enough to interfere with their ability to function in daily life, they may, in fact, be experiencing short-term memory loss linked to a specific health condition.

Some common signs of short-term memory loss include, for example:

  • First, asking someone their name, the same questions, or for the same information repeatedly
  • Second, being confused about what they are doing, who they are with, and what time or day it is
  • Moreover, having trouble remembering or understanding information they have just received, such as directions or steps in a recipe
  • Furthermore, forgetting recent experiences or events
  • In addition, forgetting where they put things
  • And finally, forgetting something they recently heard on the radio or saw on television.

Causes of Short Term Memory Loss

A long list of different factors and conditions can cause short-term memory loss. For instance, some of the more common conditions associated with short-term memory loss include:

Aging

Firstly, aging. As someone ages, changes in their brain tend to slowly develop, which can make them more forgetful than they were before.

However, research suggests that memory loss is not an inevitable part of aging. In fact, as someone ages, their brain actually can retain the ability to create new brain cells and form new nerve connections.

Neurodegenerative Diseases

Additionally, neurodegenerative diseases can cause nerves in the brain and peripheral nervous system to lose function and die over time. Specifically, many neurodegenerative diseases can cause short-term memory loss. Some of the most common neurodegenerative diseases associated with short-term memory loss include:

Head Injury

Moreover, head injury is another factor. Many types of injury can damage brain cells and potentially cause temporary or permanent short-term memory loss.

Infection

Next, infection is also a contributing factor. Chronic or severe infection in the brain and other parts of the body can cause memory loss. For example, examples include HIV and encephalitis.

Tumors

In addition, tumors, either cancerous or benign, as well as other abnormal growths on the brain, can potentially interfere with brain functioning and impact short-term memory. Furthermore, these growths may lead to other complications.

Stroke and Cardiac Arrest

Moreover, a stroke or heart attack can cause brain damage by depriving the brain of oxygen. Consequently, this lack of oxygen can result in severe cognitive impairments.

Medications

Furthermore, many medications that impact brain functioning can cause temporary memory loss as a side effect. In particular, some medications commonly linked with memory problems include:

  • Firstly, antianxiety medications
  • Secondly, cholesterol medications
  • Thirdly, antihistamines
  • Moreover, high blood pressure medications
  • Furthermore, incontinence medications
  • In addition, anti-seizure drugs
  • Next, Parkinson’s drugs
  • Likewise, pain relievers
  • Finally, sedative or sleeping medications
  • Lastly, tricyclic antidepressants

Moreover, it is important to consult a healthcare professional regarding any concerns about these medications.

Sleep Deprivation

Likewise, not getting enough sleep can impair brain functioning. As a result, this can lead to temporary short-term memory loss.

Chronic Pain Conditions

Several conditions that cause chronic pain, such as some types of arthritis, can cause a series of cognitive problems known collectively as brain fog. In addition, these conditions may exacerbate memory issues.

People with brain fog tend to be more forgetful, have a hard time learning and remembering new information, and have trouble retrieving memories correctly. Therefore, management of chronic pain may also help improve cognitive function.

Epilepsy

Next, epilepsy can make it more difficult to process information, form and store memories, and recall information. Thus, individuals with epilepsy may experience challenges in everyday cognitive tasks.

Other Conditions

Several other conditions can cause short-term memory loss. Less common causes of short-term memory loss include:

  • First, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism
  • Next subdural hematoma
  • Moreover, cerebral vasculitis
  • Furthermore, not getting enough folic acid, vitamin B12, or thiamine
  • Lastly, vision or hearing loss

Treatment of Short-Term Memory Loss

Treatment for short-term memory loss primarily depends on the cause. In particular, common treatments for short-term memory loss based on the underlying condition or cause include:

Common treatments for short-term memory loss based on the underlying condition or cause include:

  • Injury, abnormal growths, or aneurysm: For instance, in the case of injury, abnormal growths, or aneurysm, surgery, medications, and sometimes post-surgery therapy may be necessary.
  • Infection: On the other hand, for infections, antibiotic, antiviral, or antifungal medications and medical monitoring are typically recommended. 
  • Thyroid diseases: Moreover, if thyroid diseases are present, it is advisable to speak with a doctor about thyroid hormone medications.
  • Psychiatric conditions such as depression and PTSD: Similarly, psychiatric conditions such as depression and PTSD may require psychiatric medications such as antidepressants and antianxiety medications, as well as psychological therapy such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
  • Medication side effects: Speak with a doctor about stopping the medication or reducing the dosage.

Additional Treatments

  • Alcohol or drug use: Additionally, concerning alcohol or drug use, it is important to speak with a doctor about reducing or stopping alcohol or recreational drug consumption, which may require substance abuse therapy. 
  • Sleep deprivation: Furthermore, in cases of sleep deprivation, practicing good sleep hygiene and following a strict sleeping schedule is recommended.
  • Extreme stress: Likewise, for extreme stress, one should practice stress-reducing or stress-management activities such as yoga, controlled breathing, exercise, or meditation.
  • Vitamin deficiencies: In the same vein, vitamin deficiencies can be addressed by eating a moderate, balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; one might also consider taking supplements.
  • Epilepsy: Lastly, for epilepsy, it is crucial to speak with a doctor about anti-seizure medications.
  • Types of arthritis: In addition, types of arthritis may require pain medications and attention to lifestyle factors, such as getting enough sleep and exercise.
  • Vision or hearing loss: Finally, for vision or hearing loss, wearing prescription glasses or hearing aids is advisable.

Dementia

Dementia caused by irreversible neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, or Parkinson’s disease, requires medical and lifestyle management rather than treatment in the hope of restoring memory loss.

Furthermore, there is no medication approved to cure, treat, or prevent conditions that cause irreversible memory loss; however, a few are available that may help manage other symptoms in people with early and mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease, such as:

  • Donepezil
  • Galantamine
  • Rivastigmine

In addition, you can learn more here.

Moreover, a new medication called aducanumab may actually, according to trusted sources, slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by reducing amyloid plaques (brain lesions associated with Alzheimer’s disease). Nevertheless, researchers have yet to prove this effect in a clinical setting.

Summary

Short-term memory is a person’s ability to remember small amounts of information for a short period of time. Furthermore, short-term memory loss is sometimes a part of typical aging.

However, it could be a symptom of several health conditions, both psychological and physical.

Therefore, when short-term memory loss interferes with daily functioning or quality of life, people should contact a doctor, especially if memory loss becomes frequent or severe.

Biospecimens

biospecimens

Bay Biosciences is a global leader in providing researchers with high quality, clinical grade, fully characterized human tissue samples, bio-specimens, and human bio-fluid collections.

Moreover, human biospecimens are available including tumor tissue, serum, plasma and PBMC Samples from most other therapeutic areas.

Furthermore, Bay Biosciences maintains and manages its own biorepository, the human tissue bank (biobank) consisting of thousands of diseased samples (specimens) and likewise normal healthy donors for controls. Additionally, available in all formats and types.

In fact, our biobank procures and stores fully consented, de-identified and institutional review boards (IRB) approved human tissue samples, human biofluids such as serum samples, plasma samples from various diseases and matched controls.

Also, all our human tissue collections, human biospecimens and human biofluids are provided with detailed, samples associated patient’s clinical data.

In fact, this critical patient’s clinical data includes information relating to their past and current disease, treatment history, lifestyle choices, biomarkers, and genetic information.

Additionally, researchers find the patient’s data associated with the human biospecimens extremely valuable and use it to help identify new effective treatments (drug discovery & development) in oncology, as well as in other therapeutic areas and diseases.

Bay Biosciences banks wide variety of human tissue samples and human biological samples, including fresh frozen human biospecimens cryogenically preserved at – 80°C.

For example fresh frozen tissue samples, tumor tissue samples, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE), tissue slides, with matching human bio-fluids, whole blood and blood-derived products such as human serum, human plasma and human PBMCs.

Bay Biosciences is a global leader in collecting and providing human tissue samples according to the specified requirements and customized, tailor-made collection protocols.

Please contact us anytime to discuss your special research projects and customized human tissue sample requirements.

Types of Biospecimens

Bay Biosciences provides human tissue samples (human specimens) and human biofluids from diseased and normal healthy donors which includes:

  • Peripheral whole-blood
  • Amniotic fluid
  • Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL)
  • Sputum
  • Pleural effusion
  • Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
  • Serum (sera)
  • Plasma
  • Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)
  • Saliva
  • Buffy coat
  • Urine
  • Stool Samples
  • Aqueous humor
  • Vitreous humor
  • Kidney stones (renal calculi)
  • Other bodily fluids from most diseases including cancer.

Moreover, we can also procure most human biospecimens and human biofluids, special collections and requests for human samples that are difficult to find. All our human tissue samples and human biofluids are procured through IRB-approved clinical protocols and procedures.

In addition to the standard processing protocols, Bay Biosciences can also provide human biofluids such as  human plasma, human serum, and human PBMCs bio-fluid samples using custom processing protocols. you buy donor-specific collections in higher volumes and specified sample aliquots from us in multiple format and sets.

Bay Biosciences also provides human biospecimens from normal healthy donors; volunteers, for controls and clinical research, Contact us Now.