Are you feeling depressed and facing some cognitive issues at the same time? Then you might be at risk of memory loss. Depression is a common mental disorder in which a person experiences continuous depressed emotions and fear. Moreover, persons with depression are unable to effectively participate in productive life activities. Various symptoms of depression act as a major obstacle to living a normal life. However, memory loss is one of the chronic symptoms of depression. If you want to know more that does depression causes memory loss then read this article thoroughly. Furthermore, you will also get a clear insight into how can anxiety and depression cause memory loss. So what are you looking for? Take a step ahead and acquire the valuable information that can give you mental well being.
Can anxiety and depression cause memory loss?
Do you consider your daily tasks purposeless? If you think that moving through life’s challenges is difficult then you might be suffering from depression. A depressed person faces various obstacles in their personal and professional life. Moreover, in major cases, the prolonged depression affects the memory. However, you do not need to take stress as Renewed Mental Health Group offers top-notch mental health services that can treat your depression and associated memory loss.
Aging is an inevitable process that affects the overall person’s life. However, aging majorly affects the memory. Older persons are unable to remember different things and face difficulty in paying attention to important details. Moreover, different studies have reported that the level of neurotransmitters also decreases with the aging process. After a specific age, neurons are unable to effectively perform the coordination between the brain and body.
Furthermore, older people are more prone to suffer from memory loss. Both males and females can experience memory loss due to prolonged depression. Various recent studies have reported a strong association between depression and memory loss. In addition, researchers have answered the question: does depression cause memory loss? Persons suffering from depression can experience memory loss at any point in their lives. A person should have a clear idea of whether depression causes memory loss or not.
Does depression cause dementia?
Depression does not immediately result in the memory. However, you should be completely familiar with does depression causes memory loss. First, depression affects common cognitive abilities. Affected persons are unable to remember things and move towards forgetfulness. In addition, they also feel confused in making normal decisions. They face difficulties in the interpretation of real-time facts. Moreover, they don’t feel any interest in focusing on their life chores. Lack of motivation is also a major symptom of their affected neurocognitive abilities. However, depression can also cause the onset of long-term memory symptoms.
Furthermore, depression also causes various other negative alterations in the body such as:
- Trouble in sleep-wake cycles
- Reduced appetite
- Lack of passion
- Sudden drastic change in weight
- Preference of isolation
- Feeling little energy
- Fatigue
- Suicidal thoughts
- Headache
- Body ache
- Major depressive disorder
What are the different types of memory?
Getting the idea of different types of memory is also significant in determining whether depression causes memory loss. There are some different types of memories which include:
Sensory memory
As the name indicates, sensory memory involves the information of sensory signals. Moreover, different types of sensory signals are linked to memory processing which involves short-term and long-term memory. The duration of this memory is short and only lasts for just one second.
Short-term memory
The duration of short-term memory is also different from the sensory memory. Short-term memory lasts for 60 seconds.
Long-term memory
Long-term memory can last for several hours, days, or months. Moreover, the hippocampus is involved in the processing of long-term memory. After the processing, information is stored in different brain regions.
Working memory
There is a strong resemblance between short-term memory and working memory.
In this type of memory, information is manipulated by the person. Working memory is utilized in different ways. If a person is solving a mathematical problem then working memory is used.
Likewise, if you are cooking something and suddenly you forget certain things then you rely on the working memory to remember those things. Furthermore, arguments during discussion also require the effective functioning of working memory.
Semantic memory
This memory is related to general knowledge. Students who learn certain things store the information in the form of semantic memory. Moreover, those life events that a person never experiences also result in the formation of semantic memory.
Episodic memory
Episodic memories are associated with memories of unforgettable events. Moreover, the childhood experiences also result in the formation of episodic memory.
Stages of memory formation
The process of memory formation and processing is extremely complex. The following steps are involved which also make this concept obvious does depression cause memory loss?
Encoding
Encoding involves the brain’s ability to receive external stimuli. Different five senses are responsible for resounding the external factors.
Storage
The next step involves the processing of brain information. Moreover, the hypothalamus and hippocampus are involved in memory processing. Memory is not stored in a specific place and is distributed in different brain regions. Furthermore, different brain parts are responsible for memory processing which includes short-term memory and long-term memory.
Recalling of memories
In the last step, memory is retrieved from the brain. The memory that is stored in different brain regions is stored all over the brain. Then all the different memory pieces are reassembled.
How can you diagnose the memory loss?
There are different ways to diagnose memory loss. Moreover, mental health experts perform a physical evaluation test to effectively analyze the symptoms of memory loss. Different questions are asked of the patients such as:
- For how many days, have you been experiencing memory loss?
- Do you feel difficulty in doing different tasks?
- Do you drink alcohol?
- Have you ever experienced any trauma or brain injury?
- Do you think that your normal life is affected?
- How often do you feel depressed or anxious?
- Do you prefer isolation or engaging in social activities?
- Do you have any previous medical history?
- Is any of your parent is suffering from depression?
- Are you taking any kind of medications?
- Are you willing to initiate any treatment therapy?
Cognitive test
Cognitive tests are also used to assess the symptoms of depression and resulting memory loss. These tests have a strong association with the condition that depression causes memory loss. In addition, these tests are used to determine whether a person needs further evaluation tests or not. The motive of cognitive tests is to determine the different cognitive abilities such as thinking, memory, and problem-solving skills. Furthermore, the duration of cognitive tests also varies depending on the person’s condition. Some cognitive tests are brief while some are longer and also exhibit more complexity.
Neurological evaluation
In neurological evaluation tests, affected persons are asked to do certain things. Moreover, they are asked to name objects. In addition, it also involves different tests that evaluate the reflex actions. Furthermore, eye movement, speech as well as body coordination is also determined. Different therapists also perform brain imaging tests to determine the brain structure and activity. Persons with depression face difficulties in recalling positive events in their lives. They only remain indulged in their intrusive thoughts. They spend major time remembering their negative life experiences.
Learn more: A brief note on different types of trauma
Can long-term depression cause memory loss?
Various external factors can cause the condition that does depression cause memory loss.
Sufficient nutrition
A healthy and balanced diet is also essential for brain health. Your diet should include an effective quantity of proteins, carbohydrates, and proteins. Moreover, different vitamins are also effective for improved body and brain health. Vitamin B1 and B12 are responsible for regulating the memory. However, if your diet is deficient in nutrients, your memory will also be affected.
Adequate sleep
Sleep is also responsible for the improved brain health. If the person is not getting sufficient sleep, there is a greater possibility of memory loss. Moreover, it can affect the functioning of neurons which are specifically involved in the processing of memories.
Emotional trauma
Any frightening situation that happened in the past can lead to emotional dysregulation.
Does only depression affect memory loss?
Some additional factors also explain the fact that does depression cause memory loss. Other than depression, various factors can alter cognitive functioning such as:
- Thyroid issues
- Excessive intake of medicines
- Head injury
- Physical trauma
- Intake of alcohol
- Mild cognitive impairment
- Dementia
- Alzheimer disease
- Parkinson disease
- Stroke
- Deficiency of nutrients
- Multiple sclerosis
- Mood disorders
- Major Depressive disorder
How does depression cause memory loss?
When the person is depressed, numerous changes occur in the brain. The fact that does depression cause memory loss is evident through numerous studies. First, the body’s sympathetic system gets activated which in turn causes the stimulation of a fight or flight response. The main goal of this system is to prepare the body to deal with different emergencies. Moreover, cortisol is the major hormone that is released during frightful situations.
Persons with depressive phases have smaller-sized hippocampus as compared to the normal brain. During this depressive stage, most of the symptoms are identical to the dementia. Although, it’s not obvious that the symptoms are of dementia. However, this condition is referred to as pseudodementia. This involves the occurrence of those disorders whose symptoms mimic dementia.
Similarly, the amygdala is also responsible for controlling various brain functions. It not only regulates the processing of memories but also controls the learning capabilities. Different studies have reported that depression affects the amygdala and can cause memory loss.
Is memory loss caused by depression permanent?
This is not a fact that memory loss caused by depression is untreatable. The severe symptom of depression is memory loss which explains the fact that depression causes memory loss. Moreover, different studies have reported the effectiveness of therapeutic molecules against depression and memory loss.
How to manage depression that causes memory loss?
If you want to remain healthy and experience mental well being, then simply follow the few basic things to heal from depression that can cause memory loss. You just have to follow a few basic life principles that support brain function and structure. Ultimately, you will get familiar with that does depression cause memory loss.
Psychiatric medication management
If depression and memory loss become severe, then different medicines are recommended by the experts.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants are the common medicines that are used to treat depression and memory loss. The most common antidepressants include:
- Serotonin modulators
- Typical depressants
- Atypical depressants
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
- Selective / norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
However, the person should take antidepressants after the proper recommendation. Some common side effects include:
- Headache
- Drowsiness
- Sexual dysfunction
- Diarrhea
- Gastrointestinal issues
The appropriate intake of antidepressants can prevent the condition that depression cause memory loss.
Exercise routine
Whenever you are feeling stressed, don’t lose hope. Make a schedule of daily exercise and regularly follow it. Exercise is the best way to deal with depression and associated medical conditions. Moreover, regular workouts are not only effective for the body but also enhance brain functioning. Under the effect of hormones, the person feels pleasure and a soothing effect on the entire body. Mind strengthening exercises, strength training, and aerobic exercises are the major workout which has proved to be effective against depression and memory loss.
Meditation exercises
There are various significant effects of meditation on the brain. A large number of studies have reported a strong association between meditation exercises and enhanced brain function. Regular meditation exercises cause rapid blood flow towards the brain. Moreover, it also positively affects the cerebral cortex and affects memory functioning and processing. Different researchers supported the fact that 20 minutes of exercise is sufficient to achieve enhanced brain activity. However, the extended duration results the improved outcomes. Furthermore, meditation exercises are also responsible for regulating emotions.
Brain exercises
Your brain and body have the same requirements. Just like your body, your brain also needs relaxation to perform effectively. If your brain is healthy and active, then it will remain more focused. In addition, there will be a reduced chance of memory loss. However, if you are unable to go to any gym, then you can simply perform the brain exercises by sitting at your home. Different mental health therapists also suggest performing different puzzles to improve analytical abilities.
Learning a new and innovative skill
If you think that your stress or anxiety is affecting your memory and in the future, you can experience memory loss, then you should take some steps to prevent this. Moreover, you can learn any new or creative skill to keep your mind busy with positive thinking. Learning a new skill can significantly strengthen the connections within your brain. When you focus on positive thinking, you push out all the negative memories from your brain. Furthermore, you can learn anything such as any game or physical activity. Similarly, you can also learn any musical instrument. Ultimately, it provides the instant sensation of pleasure or relief.
Learn more: How does anxiety affect your daily life?
Tai Chi
Tai Chi is also an effective exercise for enhanced brain functioning. It involves slow and progressive body movements. Moreover, tai chi works on the meditation principle and develops a strong association between your body and brain. Furthermore, tai chi movements show great resemblance with dance movements so a person also enjoys the exercise.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavior therapy alters the person’s behavior. If a person is facing any kind of psychological problem, then cognitive issues can help. This therapy acts as a restorative therapy and can treat memory loss. Therefore, talk therapy is ideal for overcoming mental challenges.
Speech therapy
A person facing the issues of memory loss can also face difficulty in speech. However, the situation is not the same for everyone. For those people who experience memory loss with speech, speech therapy can do wonders for them.
Occupational therapy
Just like other therapies, occupational therapy is also effective in treating memory loss. Persons with depression and memory loss face difficulty in learning new skills or techniques. With the help of occupational therapy, individuals can assist them in remembering new facts. Moreover, occupational memory not only improves their memory but also positively affects emotional dysregulation.
Concluding Remarks
Depression is more than sadness. Affected individuals face difficulty in living a healthy and normal life. Moreover, depression can affect different body organs and functions. Memory loss is one of the major chronic symptoms of depression. At Renewed Metal Health group, you can find the best mental health therapists who can treat depression and memory loss. After getting the idea that does depression cause memory loss, you will get the best treatment for depression and memory loss. Does depression cause memory loss? Know the top facts!
