I remembered and forgot the reasons for poor memory. What should you do if your memory has deteriorated and your concentration has lost focus? Use folk remedies

Friends, good afternoon! Today we will talk about bad memory and what to do to improve it. What vitamins can you take to combat absent-mindedness and inattention? Brain function is the basis of a fulfilling life, the ability to perceive the surrounding reality and adequately respond to what is happening around.

Forgetfulness and absent-mindedness are not scary, of course, but they are always unpleasant. And it also happens to me that you go on some errand, but end up forgetting something at home. Or even funnier. You intend to take a walk to pick up herbs, but forget your knife at home.

And it’s somehow sad, and sometimes funny, from such incidents. And you write it down on a piece of paper, but it’s all to no avail. Forgetfulness is not a serious phenomenon, it is not even a disease. Quicker a sign of an untrained brain.

Of course there is senile forgetfulness, caused by age-related changes in the head. There are even serious memory lapses when a person forgets the name of him or his family. This most often occurs after strokes. We will not consider such cases today.

Memory decline is directly related to brain training. Although our brain is not a muscle, it requires increased attention. It can be trained and is capable of remembering and storing truly countless amounts of information. How to train him? What substances improve memory?

Water for the brain

Dehydration of the brain is one of the causes of brain disorders. We don't notice how we lose fluid. And it is extremely important for the full functioning of this organ. Fatigue and memory loss are directly related to the supply of water to the brain. Drink at least seven glasses of pure water a day, not in teas or in the form of any mixed liquids.

B vitamins

Your diet should definitely include B vitamins, such as B6 and B12. As well as thiamine and niacin . These substances have a beneficial effect on the restoration and functioning of brain tissue.

If you have poor memory and absent-mindedness, then eat bananas. These fruits contain a lot of vitamins B6, as well as other beneficial substances. And one more thing: have you ever seen a monkey with memory loss?

Also a good supplier of vitamins of this group can be called whole grain products. And especially wheat and rye sprouts.

Eliminate saturated fats from your diet

All saturated fats clog the arterial lumen, which means that the brain and heart receive significantly less blood and, accordingly, oxygen. We get saturated fats from butter, and also, which is more dangerous, from trans fats.

We get trans fats in finished baked goods - cookies from the store and any confectionery. And also exclude margarine - this is generally a slow self-poisoning.

The best meat is fish

Eat fish products two or three times a week. Tuna, salmon, herring and mackerel are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These substances have a beneficial effect, indirectly, through cleansing blood vessels, on brain activity.

Take a multivitamin

They must contain vitamin B12, as well as folic acid. It is these two components that are largely responsible for memory. Even a very slight deficiency of these vitamins leads to poor attention and absent-mindedness.

Unleash your brains

The more we train the brain, the better it works, even despite the lack of certain substances. It's a paradox, but that's exactly what happens. That is, he somehow mobilizes and still works. It is better, of course, when it is also provided with proper nutrition.

Solve crosswords, various puzzles and puzzles . Read educational literature. Learn foreign languages. People with a high level of intelligence are much less likely to suffer from memory problems.

Ginseng preparations

They have a very good effect on the mental activity of the brain. You can buy a tincture of the root in pharmacies. Read the instructions and use this drug to improve your memory.

I have a friend who can send me a real Chinese ginseng infusion. If you are interested, write to my email. [email protected]

Herb asiatica or gotu kola

It has long been used in Asia to improve intelligence; if memory has become worse, people take gotu kola preparations or simply add the leaves to salads. This plant is sold there at all vegetable markets as a seasoning.

It can also be purchased in pharmacies in extract and powder form. People began using this drug after observing elephants. They ate grass and became noticeably smarter.

The stimulating power of coffee

Oddly enough, coffee can also have a positive effect. Just drink coffee beans, not chemical poison in powder form. Grind and cook it yourself at home.

I drink it every morning - I brew a level teaspoon of coffee for two glasses of water. I'm pouring cold water grind the powder and put it on low gas. I bring it to a boil and immediately remove it. I insist for another 5 minutes and drink it with honey as a bite.

Excellently improves performance and organizes thoughts. Especially beneficial for the brain for older people. For example, the Athonite elders retain a clear mind and strong memory until old age. They drink up to 5 cups of coffee a day. We don't need that much, of course. A glass in the morning and around lunchtime is enough.

Ginkgo biloba preparations

Take 120 mg of preparations containing ginkgo biloba daily. This plant has a good effect on the blood supply to the brain and improves its absorption of oxygen. Increases performance and memory.

Concentration of attention

There are special practices aimed at focusing attention. For example, contemplating a candle, preferably a church candle, since the power of faith is especially helpful. I profess Orthodoxy, so I focus on Christian values.

So, light a candle or lamp, and repeating the Our Father, look continuously at the flame. To begin with, the practice should last about 5 minutes, and then you can gradually increase it to half an hour. Your attention and concentration will improve significantly.

The ability to preserve and restore previous experiences, experiences and impressions in consciousness is the most important function of the human brain. In fact, memory is the person himself. Memory disorders significantly impair the quality of life, and each of us would like to preserve this higher mental function for many decades. But not everything depends on a person’s desire. Memory impairment can occur at any age. Disorders can be quantitative or qualitative. In the first case, individual fragments fall out, in the second, a confusion arises from real memories of different times and imaginary ones.

Types of memory problems

Human memory is a complex of complex mental mechanisms, which, despite the impressive amount of research, remains a mystery to scientists. So far, they have not been able to identify the specific areas of the brain responsible for memory. It is traditionally believed that memory is a built-in part of a single mental apparatus, and not a separate recording machine.

Memory ensures the recording, storage and reconstruction of various facts, knowledge and skills.

The degree of memorization of an individual person is determined by a combination of factors, such as motivation (stimulus), emotional component, concentration, and individual mental properties. Even a slight impairment of the ability to remember is associated with noticeable discomfort.

Our brain lacks a specialized area specifically responsible for memory function

The main types of memory disorders are listed below:

Amnesia. Memory lapses regarding recent important events or fragmented memories. Memory loss in this case is often temporary. Recovering memories occurs in chronological order. Events preceding amnesia are most often lost to memory forever. Kinds:
- dissociative amnesia - loss of memories of emotionally traumatic events, refers to varieties natural properties memories that repress painful memories into the realm of the unconscious; memories can be restored by working with a psychoanalyst or through hypnosis;
- retrograde amnesia - loss of memory fragments for events that occurred immediately before the skull injury;
- anterograde amnesia - loss of memories following trauma or stress;
- fixation amnesia is the inability to remember and reproduce current events that coincided with trauma.
Hypomnesia. Congenital or acquired progressive memory impairment. Decreased ability to remember and reproduce digital, terminological data, titles, names. In older people, it is characterized by a gradual loss of memories from the present to the past.
Hypermnesia. Pathologically hypertrophied ability to remember, often relating to certain types or forms of memory (memorizing unnecessary details, information that does not carry a semantic load, etc.).
Paramnesia. A qualitative distortion of memory, which is characterized by false or confused memories of different times, as well as real and fictitious events. Types of paramnesia:
- confabulation - false memories or combinations of events that actually took place with fictitious ones, when the patient talks about previously allegedly committed actions, achievements, non-existent wealth or criminal acts;
- pseudoreminiscence - a confusion of memories when the patient replaces a forgotten recent event with facts that took place in the distant past;
- cryptomnesia - replacing one's own memories with information obtained from books or other information sources, attributing to oneself other people's creative ideas (involuntary plagiarism);
- echonesia - the perception of what is happening as previously experienced in reality or in a dream, as a continuation of these events;
- palimpsest - loss from memory of fragments of what happened during alcohol intoxication.

Causes of memory disorders

There are completely different reasons for memory impairment. The most common include: chronic fatigue syndrome, mental exhaustion, head injuries, age-related changes, senile dementia, alcohol addiction, toxic poisoning of the body, micro- and macronutrient deficiencies. Specific reasons are more typical for certain age categories.

In children

Memory disorders in children can be caused by congenital or acquired conditions. The first includes delay or incomplete mental development, to the second - problems with remembering information, amnesia as a result of injury, mental illness, or a coma.

Fragmentary memory impairments in childhood most often caused by a combination of a number of factors, including an unhealthy psychological atmosphere in the family or preschool/school institution, chronic fatigue (sometimes due to frequent respiratory infections), and insufficient intake of vitamins and macroelements.

In young and middle age

In adulthood, there are also plenty of reasons for memory disorders. Starting from chronic stress at work and in the family, ending with serious neurological diseases (idiopathic parkinsonism syndrome) and brain damage (encephalitis). Mental illnesses are also associated with partial loss of memory function, including neuroses, depressive disorders, and schizophrenia.

Damage to the blood vessels of the brain and circulatory insufficiency have a significant impact on memory function. These include diseases of the endocrine system (diabetes, thyroid dysfunction), vascular diseases, and chronically elevated blood pressure.

In the elderly

In old age, the main part of memory disorders is associated with impaired cerebral circulation as a result of age-related wear and tear of the vascular system. The metabolic process in nerve cells also suffers negative changes. One of the most common causes of serious memory problems in older patients is Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that gradually affects various aspects of memory

The natural aging process is accompanied by a decrease in memory acuity, but this happens quite smoothly. First of all, it becomes increasingly difficult for an elderly person to remember recent events. At the same time, the memory of the distant past can remain very clear; the old man remembers what happened long ago in detail. Increasing forgetfulness often provokes fear and self-doubt in older people, as well as anxiety and even depression.

Be that as it may, at least half of people after 65 years complain about deterioration in memorability. However, older people rarely experience significant discomfort due to the slow aging process. With a sharp and rapid deterioration of memory, there is a high chance of developing senile dementia if life-saving measures are not taken in time.

Symptoms of memory loss

Symptoms that raise suspicion of memory problems and may be considered signs of cognitive decline include:

decreased concentration (inability to concentrate and fixate on a topic or object for a longer or shorter period of time);
decreased ability to switch attention (excessive fixation on one topic and repeated return to it after a short distraction);
state of lethargy;
systematic violations of the daily routine;
signs of apathy or depressive state(loss of appetite, suicidal thoughts).

Diagnosis for memory problems

Diagnosis of memory disorders is carried out by a neurologist. There are various diagnostic techniques for identifying memory disorders. It is important to understand that they are all standardized, and each individual’s memory properties have their own characteristics. The concept of norm is rather conditional. But it is more than possible to identify obvious violations using the methods below.

First, the doctor asks the patient to look through a set of several dozen cards with images of different objects. The cards are viewed fairly quickly, after which the subject must name the maximum number of items that he could remember, in a chaotic order. Having assessed the percentage of correct answers, the doctor makes a conclusion about the patient’s memory state. If the patient managed to remember about 2/3 of all images (for example, 20 out of 30), then this result corresponds to the norm and the person has no problems with memory.

Diagnostics of figurative (visual) memory is carried out using cards with images

Then the patient may be offered a second set of cards, with which he will need to perform similar actions. Dramatic differences in results will reveal a reduced ability to concentrate and remember (mnestic function).

In a similar way, not only visual, but also auditory memory is tested, only the pictures are not shown, but the objects depicted on them are spoken aloud. If the patient was able to reproduce about 60–70% of the information, this indicates an excellent result.

Another method of testing memory is to list unrelated words in a certain sequence (2-4 repetitions). The patient is asked to voice the remembered words immediately after the test and 30 minutes later. The correct answers are recorded, from which conclusions can be drawn about the degree of attention of the subject. Likewise, artificial words that lack meaning can be used. If the patient managed to remember more than half of 10–20 words, then his memory function corresponds to the norm.

If serious organic disorders associated with cerebral vessels are suspected, diagnostic neuroimaging methods are used: CT or MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging, as the method of choice for suspected Alzheimer's disease, reveals characteristic signs of a degenerative process in the brain:

decrease in the amount of gray matter;
enlargement of the cavity of the ventricles of the brain;
detection of inclusions (plaques) on the walls of arteries.

Principles of correction and treatment depending on the causes

Methods of treatment and correction of cognitive disorders directly depend on the established diagnosis. Cerebral circulation disorders - acute and chronic - arise as a consequence of diseases of the heart and vascular system. Therefore, therapy in this case is aimed at combating pathologies such as heart disease, hypertension, and cerebral atherosclerosis.

In conditions of the development of atherosclerosis, which affects the volume of blood movement through the vessels, it is necessary to prescribe drugs that prevent the formation of blood clots (Clopidogrel, Acetylsalicylic acid).

If it is determined that a person has significantly exceeded the indicators that are not corrected by diet, then it is necessary to take drugs that reduce lipid or fat levels (Atorvastatin, Simvastatin).

It is important to eliminate factors that reduce blood supply to the brain, such as smoking, sedentary lifestyle, excess weight, diabetes.

The condition of insufficient blood supply to the brain is dangerous due to cell death as a result of narrowing or blockage of small vessels. In this case, it is appropriate to prescribe neuroprotective therapy. This treatment is provided by a special group of drugs called nootropics. These drugs increase the brain's resistance to a variety of harmful influences, such as overexertion or oxygen starvation. They are represented by neuroprotectors and direct-acting nootropics. The first include the following groups of drugs:

Direct acting nootropics include:

Natural herbal remedy Ginkgo biloba extract is considered to have a nootropic effect. Preparations based on this plant have a pronounced effect that normalizes blood circulation in the brain. Tinctures of ginseng and Schisandra chinensis are used to generally increase vascular tone with a tendency to low blood pressure.

Combinations of nootropics with antidepressants or sedatives are prescribed for concomitant dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. In this case, an examination of endocrine function is indicated in order to identify possible disturbances in the functioning of the thyroid gland.

Nootropic drugs are used in the treatment of memory disorders of various origins, but always in combination with therapy of the underlying disease.

How to train your memory

The human brain, like the muscles of our body, needs constant training to maintain cognitive functions at the proper level. For a healthy person, it is enough to devote only 5 minutes a day to memory development exercises.

One of the most accessible and effective methods of training memory and thinking is solving arithmetic problems. You can start with simple examples:

487–93 =?
235:5 =?
27*6 =?

It is necessary to solve examples and problems in your head, without using auxiliary electronic devices. Mathematical calculations speed up the functions of thinking and analysis. Reflecting on arithmetic problems, calculating the percentage of discounts during the sales season, adding up the amount of a check without a calculator, we thereby provide a good workout for our brain.

Special techniques make it easy to memorize words, numbers, pictograms, and train your imagination

An excellent exercise for memory is memorizing random numbers, phone numbers, collections of objects, words that are not related to each other in meaning. To make the task easier, you can build various associative rows that help logically group certain words and symbols. For example, the number 0 (zero) visually resembles an egg, the number 1 - a candle, 4 - a sailboat, and 8 - a snowman. The graphic representation of such words or numbers may use different colors. Remembering not only the symbol, but also its color is a more difficult task, not for beginners.

Lifestyle correction

The state of memory, especially with age, is largely determined by genetic data, including a tendency to certain diseases, such as Alzheimer's type dementia. But an equally important role is played by diet and lifestyle. Here are some science-backed tips to help you maintain your cognitive abilities at any age:

Limit your intake of sweets. A large number of Sugar in the diet can cause a variety of health problems, including cognitive decline. In people who regularly abuse sugary drinks and confectionery products, the volume of the brain decreases, in particular, the area responsible for short term memory. By reducing the amount of harmful carbohydrates, you can improve not only your memory, but also your overall health.
Take fish oil supplements. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid), which are rich in fish oil, protect the heart from diseases caused by excess everyday stress and anxiety; reduce the inflammatory response in the body. According to clinical studies, long-term - at least a year - use of concentrated fish oil supplements significantly improves working and episodic memory in people over 65 years of age with mild cognitive impairment.
Fish fat contains polyunsaturated fatty acids that protect our heart, blood vessels and brain
Take up a meditation practice. Meditation techniques are great for relieving stress and relaxing. Some evidence suggests that practicing meditation techniques increases the volume of gray matter containing neurons. Age-related changes lead to a decrease in gray matter in the brain, which negatively affects cognition and memory functions. Mental exercise sharpens short-term memory and improves visual-spatial working memory at any age.
Regular meditation practice increases gray matter volume in the brain at any age
Normalize your body weight. As many clinical studies demonstrate, obesity significantly increases the risk of cognitive decline. Interestingly, obesity may actually cause genetic changes related to memory function. Overweight also invariably leads to insulin resistance and an increase in levels, which becomes the cause of type 2 diabetes. Obesity is a significant risk factor for the development of Alzheimer's type dementia.
Train mindfulness and awareness. Self-awareness is mental condition focusing on the current moment, paying attention to your own feelings from the surrounding space. You can practice mindfulness as part of meditation or separately, as a kind of mental habit or skill. Mindfulness effectively reduces stress and improves concentration.
Don't ignore physical activity. For healthy brain function, it is important to engage not only in mental practices, but also regularly devote time to sports. Thus, even simple daily exercise of 15–20 minutes on a stationary exercise bike significantly improves the cognitive capabilities of the brain in people from 18 to 95 years old, according to research. Exercise increases the production of neuroprotective proteins and improves the growth and development of neurons, which reduces the risk of dementia later in life.

Prevention

Following the rules healthy image life is the best opportunity to avoid memory deterioration ahead of schedule. Timely treatment of systemic diseases, including diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension, plays an important role. It is necessary to pay attention to the daily routine, alternating work with rest, ensuring night sleep of at least 8 hours so that organs and systems have time to recover.

You should not abuse low-calorie diets. For its activity, the brain consumes at least 1/5 of energy intake from food intake. Another thing is that it is important to build a balanced diet, where the main products will be vegetables, whole grain cereals, and fatty fish. Hydration of the body is of great importance. The daily fluid intake is about 2–2.5 liters for a person of average build. It is better to prefer drinking or mineral water as the main drink.

In old age, it is important to continue to maintain social activity, take an interest in news, read books and newspapers, and communicate with loved ones - this will significantly increase the chances of maintaining normal cognitive function into old age.

Causes of memory impairment: video

There are many simple, fun and effective ways maintain the cognitive functions of the brain in excellent condition. But any technique must be based on a scientific approach. By combining the rules of a healthy lifestyle, physical activity and regular training of mental functions, you can be sure that your memory will not fail you until old age.

Types of memory problems

Memory ensures the recording, storage and reconstruction of various facts, knowledge and skills.

Our brain lacks a specialized area specifically responsible for memory function

The main types of memory disorders are listed below:

Amnesia. Memory lapses regarding recent important events or fragmented memories. Memory loss in this case is often temporary. Recovering memories occurs in chronological order. Events preceding amnesia are most often lost to memory forever. Kinds:
- dissociative amnesia - loss of memories of emotionally traumatic events, refers to varieties of natural properties of memory that displace painful memories into the realm of the unconscious; memories can be restored by working with a psychoanalyst or through hypnosis;
- retrograde amnesia - loss of memory fragments for events that occurred immediately before the skull injury;
- anterograde amnesia - loss of memories following trauma or stress;
- fixation amnesia is the inability to remember and reproduce current events that coincided with trauma.
Hypomnesia. Congenital or acquired progressive memory impairment. Decreased ability to remember and reproduce digital, terminological data, titles, names. In older people, it is characterized by a gradual loss of memories from the present to the past.
Hypermnesia. Pathologically hypertrophied ability to remember, often relating to certain types or forms of memory (memorizing unnecessary details, information that does not carry a semantic load, etc.).
Paramnesia. A qualitative distortion of memory, which is characterized by false or confused memories of different times, as well as real and fictitious events. Types of paramnesia:
- confabulation - false memories or combinations of events that actually took place with fictitious ones, when the patient talks about previously allegedly committed actions, achievements, non-existent wealth or criminal acts;
- pseudoreminiscence - a confusion of memories when the patient replaces a forgotten recent event with facts that took place in the distant past;
- cryptomnesia - replacing one's own memories with information obtained from books or other information sources, attributing to oneself other people's creative ideas (involuntary plagiarism);
- echonesia - the perception of what is happening as previously experienced in reality or in a dream, as a continuation of these events;
- palimpsest - loss from memory of fragments of what happened during alcohol intoxication.

Causes of memory disorders

In children

Memory disorders in children can be caused by congenital or acquired conditions. The first includes delayed or incomplete mental development, the second includes problems with remembering information, amnesia as a result of injury, mental illness, or coma.

Fragmented memory impairments in childhood are most often caused by a combination of a number of factors, including an unhealthy psychological atmosphere in the family or preschool/school institution, chronic fatigue (sometimes due to frequent respiratory infections), and insufficient intake of vitamins and macroelements.

In young and middle age

In the elderly

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that gradually affects various aspects of memory

Symptoms of memory loss

Symptoms that raise suspicion of memory problems and may be considered signs of cognitive decline include:

decreased concentration (inability to concentrate and fixate on a topic or object for a longer or shorter period of time);
decreased ability to switch attention (excessive fixation on one topic and repeated return to it after a short distraction);
state of lethargy;
systematic violations of the daily routine;
signs of apathy or depression (loss of appetite, suicidal thoughts).

Diagnosis for memory problems

Diagnostics of figurative (visual) memory is carried out using cards with images

decrease in the amount of gray matter;
enlargement of the cavity of the ventricles of the brain;
detection of inclusions (plaques) on the walls of arteries.

Principles of correction and treatment depending on the causes

It is important to eliminate factors that reduce blood supply to the brain, such as smoking, sedentary lifestyle, excess weight, diabetes.

The condition of insufficient blood supply to the brain is dangerous due to cell death as a result of narrowing or blockage of small vessels. In this case, it is appropriate to prescribe neuroprotective therapy. This treatment is provided by a special group of drugs called nootropics. These drugs increase the brain's resistance to a variety of harmful influences, such as excess load or oxygen deprivation. They are represented by neuroprotectors and direct-acting nootropics. The first include the following groups of drugs:

Direct acting nootropics include:

Gingko biloba extract is considered a natural herbal remedy with a nootropic effect. Preparations based on this plant have a pronounced effect that normalizes blood circulation in the brain. Tinctures of ginseng and Schisandra chinensis are used to generally increase vascular tone with a tendency to low blood pressure.

Nootropic drugs are used in the treatment of memory disorders of various origins, but always in combination with therapy of the underlying disease.

How to train your memory

One of the most accessible and effective methods of training memory and thinking is solving arithmetic problems. You can start with simple examples:

487–93 =?
235:5 =?
27*6 =?

Special techniques make it easy to memorize words, numbers, pictograms, and train your imagination

Lifestyle correction

Limit your intake of sweets. Large amounts of sugar in the diet can cause a variety of health problems, including cognitive decline. In people who regularly abuse sugary drinks and confectionery, the volume of the brain decreases, in particular, the area responsible for short-term memory. By reducing the amount of harmful carbohydrates, you can improve not only your memory, but also your overall health.
Take fish oil supplements. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid), which are rich in fish oil, protect the heart from diseases caused by excess everyday stress and anxiety; reduce the inflammatory response in the body. According to clinical studies, long-term - at least a year - use of concentrated fish oil supplements significantly improves working and episodic memory in people over 65 years of age with mild cognitive impairment.
Fish oil contains polyunsaturated fatty acids that protect our heart, blood vessels and brain
Take up a meditation practice. Meditation techniques are great for relieving stress and relaxing. Some evidence suggests that practicing meditation techniques increases the volume of gray matter containing neurons. Age-related changes lead to a decrease in gray matter in the brain, which negatively affects cognition and memory functions. Mental exercise sharpens short-term memory and improves visual-spatial working memory at any age.
Regular meditation practice increases gray matter volume in the brain at any age
Normalize your body weight. As many clinical studies demonstrate, obesity significantly increases the risk of cognitive decline. Interestingly, obesity may actually cause genetic changes related to memory function. Excess weight also invariably leads to insulin resistance and increased levels, which becomes the cause of type 2 diabetes. Obesity is a significant risk factor for the development of Alzheimer's type dementia.
Train mindfulness and awareness. Self-awareness is a mental state of focusing on the current moment, attentiveness to one’s own sensations from the surrounding space. You can practice mindfulness as part of meditation or separately, as a kind of mental habit or skill. Mindfulness effectively reduces stress and improves concentration.
Don't ignore physical activity. For healthy brain function, it is important to engage not only in mental practices, but also regularly devote time to sports. Thus, even simple daily exercise of 15–20 minutes on a stationary exercise bike significantly improves the cognitive capabilities of the brain in people from 18 to 95 years old, according to research. Exercise increases the production of neuroprotective proteins and improves the growth and development of neurons, which reduces the risk of dementia later in life.

Prevention

Following the rules of a healthy lifestyle is the best opportunity to avoid memory deterioration ahead of schedule. Timely treatment of systemic diseases, including diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension, plays an important role. It is necessary to pay attention to the daily routine, alternating work with rest, ensuring night sleep of at least 8 hours so that organs and systems have time to recover.

Causes of memory impairment: video

There are many simple, fun and effective ways to keep your brain in top cognitive health. But any technique must be based on a scientific approach. By combining the rules of a healthy lifestyle, physical activity and regular training of mental functions, you can be sure that your memory will not fail you until old age.

Absent-mindedness is a human condition, long-term or short-term, which may indicate the development of certain diseases of the nervous system or brain. However, one should not exclude the fact that absent-mindedness in a child or adult may be symptomatic and caused by a psychosomatic factor.

There are several forms of this human condition, each of which has its own etiological picture. Determine the exact reasons for this pathological process Only a doctor can do this by performing the necessary diagnostic procedures. Self-medication is not recommended.

Etiology

The cause of impaired concentration and forgetfulness in children and adults can be either a specific disease or characteristics of a person’s psychotype.

As for pathological processes that can act as etiological factors, these include:

oncological processes in the brain;
impaired blood supply to the brain, oxygen starvation;
vascular type and (senile dementia);
strong (most often this);
, high blood pressure;
lack of essential vitamins and minerals in the body;
autoimmune and systemic diseases that affect the brain and nervous system;
chronic

In addition to diseases, forgetfulness and absent-mindedness can also be caused by psychological disorders, namely:

clinical;
severe nervous shock.

Also, increased absent-mindedness can be caused by severe fatigue, lack of sleep, and frequent nervous strain.

Classification

The following types of absent-mindedness are distinguished:

apparent absent-mindedness– in this case, a violation of the psychological plan is implied; we are not talking about the development of a pathological process. With apparent absent-mindedness, a person concentrates attention on certain events, causing everything else to fade into the background;
genuine absent-mindedness– in most cases, the cause of genuine absent-mindedness is the development of a certain pathological process or a severe psychoneurological disorder.

Imaginary absent-mindedness does not require specific treatment, and its signs are only symptomatic. However, if the symptom appears frequently and for quite a long time, you should consult a doctor. Especially when it comes to a child.

Symptoms

Imaginary and genuine absent-mindedness have completely different symptoms, since in the first case this, in itself, is not a sign of a disease, but in the second it can indicate the development of a serious pathological process.

Thus, absent-mindedness can be characterized by the following clinical signs:

headache, ;
and cognitive abilities;
deterioration in performance, loss of professional skills;
, sharp;
traits may appear in a person’s behavior that were not previously characteristic of him;
blood pressure surges;
– drowsiness during the day, inability to sleep at night;
feeling tired even after a long rest;
decreased activity, including sexual activity;
inability to concentrate on small details;
a person may begin to lose personal belongings and forget to perform usual operations.

In children, absent-mindedness can manifest itself as follows:

the child refuses to perform those operations where required increased attention and perseverance;
school failure;
slowness;
can switch to another task without completing the previous one;
sudden mood swings - activity and a cheerful mood can be replaced by attacks of hysteria for no apparent reason;
hyperexcitability;
bad memory.

It should also be understood that the presence of such signs in a child does not always indicate the presence of any disturbances in the functioning of the body; it is quite possible that these are simply features psychological development. However, consultation with a doctor is required.

Diagnostics

Only a doctor can tell you what to do and how to cope with absent-mindedness in a given case, after examination and clarification of the etiological factor and the full clinical picture. In this case, you may need to consult clinicians with the following specialization:

children's;

The diagnostic program includes the following activities:

physical examination;
neuropsychological testing;
blood sampling for biochemical analysis;
CT, MRI of the brain;
electroencephalography;
Doppler examination of the vessels of the head;
genetic research.

Based on the results of the study, the attending physician will be able to determine how to deal with absent-mindedness and prescribe effective treatment.

Treatment

Treatment, in this case, implies only an integrated approach, namely.

Hello, dear friends! Lately I often hear how different people complain about bad memory, so I propose today to talk about memory problems, especially since forgetfulness and absent-mindedness visit each of us from time to time.

I am sure that there is not a single person who has not forgotten something at least once in his life, be it taking the keys to the house or buying the necessary products in the supermarket. How many times have you rummaged around looking for an object that was actually lying in plain sight? It would seem that these are all little things unworthy of attention, but in some situations, memory impairment can warn of emerging health problems.

The simplest causes of poor memory, which are easy to get rid of, are spring vitamin deficiency and fatigue from lack of sleep. We took a vitamin complex, got a good night's sleep and my memory noticeably improves. It is much more dangerous when this symptom indicates such serious diseases as Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis or even a brain tumor. Of course, poor memory is not the only symptom of such diseases; all symptoms must be considered together. Having identified the problem, it is much easier to take preventive measures. So:

Stress and vitamin deficiency. Along with absent-mindedness, you experience a feeling, your performance decreases and problems with sleep appear, your vision deteriorates, your hair becomes dry, and your skin becomes problematic. All these symptoms indicate a lack of vitamins or stress. In this case, memory deteriorates slightly due to increased stress or vitamin deficiency.

You might be surprised, even dieting can worsen your memory! An unbalanced diet leads to disruption of the supply of nutrients to the body, especially carbohydrates. It is the deficiency of carbohydrates that leads to memory problems.

What to do? If you are experiencing increased stress, make sure that your nutrition is correct and your rest is adequate. Take a break from what you're doing and start taking care of your health. Take a fasting day for yourself - mentally and physically, change the environment.

Take vitamins, it is especially important to do this in the spring and during times of increased mental stress. Vitamins B6 and B12, as well as E and C are very important for brain function. It is also worth adding here (vitamin B9), nicotinic acid(vitamin B3 or PP) and iron. An excellent solution would be to take a complex containing all these substances in the right proportion.

Reasons for memory impairment include: injuries. In almost all cases of traumatic brain injury, memory problems occur. Moreover, a person can forget not only the moment when and how the injury occurred, but also everything that preceded it, as well as the events after it. In addition to such amnesia, hallucinations may appear, as well as memories that are created by the person himself. That is, a person remembers events and actions that actually did not happen.

It is also worth mentioning that memory deterioration occurs in everyone who abuses alcohol, cigarettes and drugs, and is also addicted to medications (especially sedatives and tranquilizers).

Circulatory disorders. If your forgetfulness is accompanied by pain in the eyes, swelling of the legs, frequent headaches, numbness in the limbs, dizziness and nausea, then you have problems with blood circulation. The brain receives insufficient oxygen, which leads to deterioration in the functioning of blood vessels and organs; some parts of them may simply stop functioning. The most dangerous changes occur during a stroke.

What to do? If you have several of the described symptoms at once, it is time to consult with doctors such as a neurologist and cardiologist. If everything is not so serious, you can improve your blood circulation on your own by adding vegetables and grains to your diet (they are rich in fiber), increasing physical activity (swimming and walking in the fresh air are especially good, daily morning exercises are also an excellent habit) , vitamins C and E and regular massage will also help you.

Thyroid problems. Often, with diseases of the thyroid gland, in addition to absent-mindedness and poor memory, drowsiness, a feeling of constant fatigue and muscle weakness, swelling, as well as constant changes in mood from irritability to depression are added. In addition to all this, eyebrows may thin, nails become brittle, and the skin becomes pale and dry. And in addition to the malfunction of the thyroid gland, you may be told by a loss of appetite when you gain extra pounds.

Most often, hormonal problems occur in women after 50 years of age. You should not be careless about endocrine diseases and let them take their course; they can cause serious disruption in the functioning of the entire body.

What to do? It is quite difficult to prevent failure of the hormonal system, but it is necessary to treat such problems, whether it is an excess of hormone production or, conversely, a decrease. First of all, adjust your diet and pay more attention to foods containing iodine: seafood (fish and seaweed), nuts, persimmons, hard cheese, dairy products. And if you suspect a malfunction of the thyroid gland, you need to contact a specialist such as an endocrinologist. The treatment that is recommended for you will depend on the nature of your specific problem.

Multiple sclerosis– this disease is a more serious problem in which there is a symptom of memory impairment. At the initial stage of the disease, emotional problems occur, which include apathy and depression. Other symptoms of sclerosis:

vision problems (beginning to double vision, blurred vision or loss of color),
appear at night,
problems arise with coordination of movements (balance is lost, handwriting changes, dizziness begins),
problems with urination are common,
Sensitivity is impaired (goosebumps appear on the skin or a feeling of “cotton” legs appears, the skin tightens, itching or burning appears on it, a tingling and numbness sensation is possible).

The problem is that when the disease is at an early stage, the symptoms will not be obvious and can be mistaken for other diseases. In addition to this, such signs “flicker” - they either disappear or reappear.

In everyday life, sclerosis is often associated with simple forgetfulness, but this disease is much more serious. It leads to the death of nerves, and serious changes occur in the body that can lead to disability.

What to do? It is important to notice the problem while it is still present. early stages, which will not allow her to progress. It is worth paying more attention to the appearance of the described symptoms, especially if they were preceded by memory deterioration. A timely visit to a neurologist will help stop the progression of the disease.

Age-related changes. Older people often complain of loss of short-term memory: they perfectly remember events that happened many years ago, but forget what they just heard. In addition to this symptom, there are other symptoms characteristic of older people, as well as patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease:

apathy,
feeling of lethargy
the person becomes impulsive, demanding, picky and selfish,
his circle of interests is narrowed and there is no self-criticism,
orientation in the surrounding space and time is lost,
The ability for self-care is lost, the person perceives himself as a small child.

As you understand, if this disease is not treated, a person can lose a sense of reality and become completely helpless.

What to do? It is in your best interest to do everything you can to prevent age-related memory loss and dementia. You need to train your brain, learn and master something new all the time: start studying some foreign language, do mental arithmetic, do crossword puzzles, do jigsaw puzzles, or solve jigsaw puzzles.

Train your memory. In addition to the actions that I have already recommended to you, you can try a selection of things that will also help improve and strengthen your memory:

perform your usual actions only with eyes closed, or, if you are right-handed, try to do everything with your left hand, at least simple actions: combing your hair, brushing your teeth;
start being interested in things you weren’t interested in before - read articles on topics that are new to you;
take up handicrafts or master a new type of handicraft;
when working at a computer, learn to type text “touch” and with ten fingers;
visit new places, meet new people.

If you notice memory deterioration, this is an alarming symptom, do not brush it off. It is worth contacting a specialist to detect emerging problems in the early stages. In this case, you will be able to not only preserve a good memory, but also your health for many years.