Before You Blame Aging, Check These 3 Hidden Causes of Memory Loss

We all have bad days when we can’t focus. Whether you can’t remember where you put your phone or you’ve got someone’s name on the tip of your tongue but still can’t recall it, these things happen to everyone. But what if they start happening to you more frequently? 

Typically, these would be described as early signs of memory loss. You may experience them at any age, and they can be worrying. 

However, here’s the thing. Forgetfulness and lack of focus are not necessarily linked to bad memory. Ultimately, your brain is working hard all day and night, not just to remember things, but also to maintain other functions. But your brain can only do so much. The process of committing an item to memory is complex, and when you don’t remember something, it may also be a sign that you are not allowing your brain to go through this process properly. You are not allowing it to form the connections it needs to recall memories. This process is called neuroplasticity, and it relies on different factors.

Your hearing

Hearing loss is one of those things that tends to get overlooked when it comes to memory problems. Even mild hearing loss can make it harder for your brain to keep up with new information. So when your brain is constantly strained to fill in the blanks and work out what’s being said, it doesn’t have room to store new information. In other words, you feel mentally drained and forgetful. 

There’s a strong link between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline, so this is something you definitely want to get sorted. It is worth getting your ears tested and investing in quality devices like Phonak hearing aids to improve sound clarity. This will be a game-changer for your brain. 

Your eyesight

Your eyes also play a pretty big role in keeping your mind sharp and alert. Age-related eye conditions such as long-sightedness and cataracts can affect your visual input. Unfortunately, when your eyesight is affected, your brain receives fewer details to work with, which can also contribute to long-term memory loss. Ultimately, your brain can not build new memories if there’s no visual input (this is for people who have relied on sight throughout their lives).

Blurry vision makes it hard to keep your brain active and alert, as you tend to read less, drive less, and avoid new places and activities. So, when the mental stimulation declines, so does the memory capacity. 

Your sleep

How well do you sleep at night? Everybody has a bad night when they can’t sleep properly. But when those become your reality, it’s a sign that something is affecting your sleep. It could be health issues, such as high weight or bad sinuses, but it could also be anxiety, alcohol, or a bad diet. Regardless of the underlying cause, lack of sleep will affect your memory. 

Indeed, the brain needs quality sleep to commit items to long-term memory. This process happens while you sleep, so if you don’t sleep enough, the brain may not have the time to create memories. 

As silly as it might sound, if you find that you can’t rely on your memory the way you used to, your first course of action should be to check your hearing, your eyesight, and your sleep patterns. These can have a significant impact on the way your brain works and recalls things. 

Until next time!

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