‘I’m a doctor and these are five main causes of memory loss not caused by dementia’

Dr Amir Khan tells five main causes of memory lossSource: Dr Amir Khan GP

Transcript

00:00 Let's talk about reversible causes of memory loss. Now, lots of people worry

00:04 about dementia when they or someone they know are having problems with their

00:08 memory and that can be scary and even prevent them from seeking professional

00:12 advice. And although dementia is an important diagnosis to rule out, there

00:16 are other reversible causes of memory problems too, which can be treated. Here

00:22 are five potential causes. Number one, emotional disorders like anxiety and

00:27 depression. These can cause confusion, difficulty concentrating and memory

00:32 issues. Number two, vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 helps maintain healthy nerve

00:38 cells and one symptom of low B12 is forgetfulness. Number three, an

00:43 underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism. This can cause forgetfulness and other

00:48 thinking problems. Number four, sleep apnea. This is when you snore loudly, start and

00:54 stop breathing during the night and drop your oxygen levels. And this can cause

00:58 memory problems which improves with treatment. Number five, certain medication

01:03 like sedatives, anti-epileptic medication, opiate painkillers, some drugs used to

01:08 treat Parkinson's and on rare occasions statins. Remember, never stop taking your

01:13 medication before speaking to a doctor and if you're worried about your memory,

01:17 speak to a healthcare professional.

01:21 [BLANK_AUDIO]