Underactive thyroid
If your thyroid gland doesn’t produce adequate amounts of a hormone called thyroxine, you’ll find it hard to remember things – as well as being tired, depressed and gaining weight. A lack of thyroxine causes a condition called hypothyroidism, which results in the body slowing down. The brain is also affected and you may struggle with your memory. An underactive thyroid can be due to autoimmune conditions, a virus or sometimes even medication. Symptoms can improve markedly if you take a thyroxine replacement.
Not getting enough vitamin B12
This vitamin – found in meats, fish and dairy products – is linked to a healthy memory because it plays a part in protecting the sheath that insulates nerves. If this is damaged, nerve impulses slow down, affecting memory and other brain functions. You can become deficient in B12 if you don’t get enough from food or if your body isn’t absorbing it properly due to a condition, such as pernicious anaemia or Crohn’s disease.
Ageing also affects our levels because our stomachs produce less of the acid needed to absorb this vitamin as we get older. It can lead to people being diagnosed with dementia when they actually have a B12 deficiency.
Depression
When you’re depressed, your brain produces smaller amounts of chemicals called serotonin and norepinephrine, which are involved in sending messages. This can also affect memory. However, once depression is successfully treated, memory problems normally improve.
High blood pressure
People with high blood pressure are more likely to have memory problems, according to a US study. It causes artery walls to become thick, making it harder for blood to get through. When blood has difficulty getting through to the brain, it affects your ability to think clearly and can also affect the hippocampus – the part of the brain involved in memory. Taking steps to lower blood pressure – such as exercising and improving your diet – can make you less forgetful.
Menopause
Dwindling levels of oestrogen may make it harder for you to remember information. Researchers at the University of California found memory is particularly affected just before menopause begins, in the stage known as perimenopause. It’s thought this is due to the fact oestrogen may protect chemical messengers in the brain called neurotransmitters. When you’re not producing as many of them, your ability to recall facts may be affected. Fortunately, the memory loss isn’t permanent.
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