Long Term Memory Loss
Memory loss is also known as amnesia. It is unusual forgetfulness that can result due to brain damage. The causes of this brain damage can be injury, illness or acute mental grief. On the basis of time span of the loss of memory, memory loss can be classified into temporary and permanent memory loss. On the basis of the nature of the memory loss, it can be classified into short term and long term memory loss.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), long term memory loss is the difficulty in recollecting events that occurred in the past. When short-term memories get consolidated in the hippocampus part of the brain, they can be accessed independently from the hippocampus.
This results in the formation of long term memory. A person who is suffering from long term memory loss has problems in recalling memories that have been stored.
Long term memory is stored as meaning and may last for years or decades. It can also be extremely short lived. Long term memory differs from short-term memory functionally as well as structurally.
Long term memories weaken naturally with age but they can also be caused due to many other factors such as a neurodegenerative disease or brain injury. Some causes of long term memory loss are given below.
Neurodegenerative Disease – Long term memory is affected adversely due to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, multiple sclerosis and Huntington’s disease. In these medical conditions, memory deteriorates due to the general cognitive decline.
Traumatic Brain Injury – Long term memory can be caused due to mental trauma and injury caused to the brain. The capability to remember appearances, tastes, smell, or sounds can be affected depending on the specific part of the brain that has received injury. As for example, swelling caused in the brain due to a head injury reduces the brain’s ability to process the incoming information.
Stress – Stress greatly contributes in the long term memory loss. When a stressful event takes place, cortisol hormone is released by the brain. If cortisol is produced in huge amount, it can damage the brain and result in long term memory loss. Long term memory loss caused due to stress may be temporary.
Other Causes – Other causes of long term memory loss may be prolonged depression, long term alcoholism, under active thyroid, brain tumor, seizures, etc.
