What can cause memory loss and confusion in young adults

A stroke can cause short-term or. Getting a prompt diagnosis and appropriate care is important. If you have difficulty remembering things, your mind may make the leap to Alzheimer’s disease – but that’s not the only cause of memory loss.

Unsurprisingly, memory problems were more prevalent as people aged. Twenty percent of the respondents had memory issues, with percent of them being young adults , percent being middle-age and percent being older.

It can be especially worrying for a young person to begin struggling with memory because of this misconception that it is strange and unusual. A faltering thyroid can affect memory (as well as disturb sleep and cause depression, both of which can be causes of forgetfulness). Memory may gradually improve over time.

A simple blood test can tell if your thyroid is doing its job properly. But consuming excessive amounts of alcohol for a decade or more can also cause impaired thinking that resembles Alzheimer’s disease. In dementia due to alcoholism, memory, orientation, and attention deteriorate, although verbal skills are not always severely affected.

In this type of dementia, abstinence may partly restore mental functioning.

It is very unusual to see this pattern in teenagers and young adults. Delayed onset of memory loss and odd behaviors (as you described above) in an otherwise healthy young person prompt two immediate thoughts that need to be ruled out. Share this infographic and help spread the word about what memory problems are normal and not.

Other causes for memory problems can include aging, medical conditions, emotional problems, mild cognitive impairment, or another type of dementia. How does alcohol cause memory loss? What are the signs of short term memory loss? What causes forgetfulness in young people? There are a few diseases that can cause memory loss , but there are also several minor causes of memory loss.

Tests can be done by a medical professional to ensure a correct diagnosis of the patient. The fact that it comes on suddenly yields clues to its possible causes. New cases of confusion or sudden memory loss for no apparent reason should be evaluated by a medical professional immediately. Older adults are particularly susceptible to dehydration. Severe dehydration can cause confusion , drowsiness, memory loss , and other symptoms that look like dementia.

It’s important to stay hydrated (aim for 6-drinks per day). Be particularly vigilant if you take diuretics or laxatives or suffer from diabetes, high blood sugar, or diarrhea.

You can also try this online, at. Never fear – when you can pinpoint the underlying cause of your brain fog and memory loss , there is something you can do about it. Although the normal aging process can result in difficulty in learning and retaining new material, normal aging itself is not a cause of significant memory loss unless there is accompanying disease that is responsible for.

In older adults who use catheters or live in a nursing home or other full-time care facility, bacteria such as. Alcohol and many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause confusion or decreased alertness. These problems may develop froTaking too much of a medicine (overmedicating) or taking medicines that may interact with each other. Overuse of medicines may be the single biggest cause of memory loss or confusion in older adults.

Stroke is a major cause of death and disability in the U. Early identification and treatment of stroke helps reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality.