Is it possible to reverse memory problems?
Table of Contents
Finding yourself more forgetful? Don’t worry just yet - there are many preventable and reversible causes of memory problems, especially if caught early and fixed.
This article explains how to re-balance your brain to reverse or slow-down memory changes.
We suggest you use this article to start a conversation with your doctor or healthcare provider to address your memory concerns.
For more on how memory problems are diagnosed, read this.
STEP 1: Understand your balance
Memory symptoms happen when the strength of our brain is outweighed by the damage that has accrued over a lifetime.
For the science behind brain balance (also called “cognitive reserve”), read this.
You can think of the brain like a set of scales, with things that build strength on one side, and things that cause damage on the other.
If you’re starting to get memory symptoms, it suggests that your brain is out of balance - there is either not enough strength or there is too much damage.
The good news is that scales aren’t set in stone - they move!
In at least 45% of dementia cases memory problems are preventable, and if addressed early enough can be reversed or slowed down.
The sooner you start, the better.
Download the handout and fill it out to see where you can increase strength and reduce damage, based on your personal circumstances.
STEP 2: Find your BIG causes
Based on clinical experience, often there are one or two BIG things that “tip” someone’s balance over the edge, causing symptoms to appear.
You’ll need to fix these first to improve your symptoms.
Here are 8 BIG causes of reversible memory problems to get you started.
1) Medications
Review your medications with a pharmacist for ones that can cause memory problems. These include things like:
sleeping pills (lorazepam, temazepam, zopiclone)
certain antidepressants like paroxetine or amitriptyline
strong opioids like dilaudid (hydromorphone), oxycodone, etc
Do not stop without the guidance of a healthcare provider, as often these medications need to be slowly reduced to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
You can read this article on which medications to avoid if you’re becoming forgetful.
Some medications can impact your memory, causing forgetfulness.
2) Alcohol
Reduce your alcohol intake. If you are drinking more than 3-4 drinks a day, read this article for advice on how to cut down.
Alcohol can impact your memory, causing forgetfulness or "blank" times in our memories.
3) Sleep and Sleep Apnea
Ask your doctor for a sleep study to check for sleep apnea if you snore. Read this article for more on sleep apnea.
Improve your overall sleep, even if you do not have sleep apnea. Read this article for more.
During menopause, stress and poor sleep can also impact our working-memory, making us easily distracted and harder to form memories (read this).
Read Karl's Story for how he reversed his memory problems from medications and sleep apnea.
4) Emotional Health
Consider whether you might be feeling low (sad or depressed), or anxious (on-edge, worried).
This can be particularly noticeable if you are experiecing grief from the loss of a loved one.
Talk to your doctor about therapy, lifestyle, and medication options.
Read Winnie's Story for how memory can improve after depression, grief, and a medication change.
5) Lack of stimulation
Keep your mind active by:
wearing hearing aids and glasses (if you need them). (Read this)
making plans to see friends, family, or other social groups (Read this)
learn new things and challenge yourself with a new hobby
The old saying “if you don’t use it, you lose it”, may have some relevance when it comes to memory and the brain!
Getting out and doing things with others can help on a number of fronts - social connection, communication, and challenging new experiences!
6) Poor blood flow
Improve blood flow to the brain by focusing on your heart health - this includes:
exercise (Read this).
smoking cessation (Read this).
managing blood pressure (the top number should be between 110-140)
managing blood sugars (your 3 month average blood sugar, known as your “HbA1C” should be around 7.5%)
maintain a stable weight (don’t lose or gain too much)
Talk to your doctor if you are unsure about your blood pressure, blood sugar, or weight goals.
Daily walks can help the brain AND heart. With enough exercise, you can also improve diabetes, high blood pressure, and your optimal weight.
7) Repeated falls
Ask for an occupational home safety assessment and physiotherapy referral for fall prevention if you have fallen and hit your head recently.
Even if the fall didn’t result in any “big” damage that made you seek medical attention, recurrent bumps to the head can cause concussions, which themselves can impact memory.
Joining balance exercises like pilates, yoga, and tai chi can also help prevent future falls. You can read other advice for managing falls here.
Preventing falls is important for the brain AND body.
8) Other medical conditions
In a very small number of people, there are some medical conditions that can impact your memory.
Ask your doctor to check:
CBC, electrolytes, creatinine
Calcium, albumin
TSH, B12
HbA1C (for diabetes)
Other special tests if you are less than 65 or have an unusual story (ask your doctor)
Brain imaging - such as a CT scan or MRI
If any of these tests are very abnormal, your doctor should work with you to bring them back into a normal range.
However, if any of these tests are just slightly abnormal, they probably aren’t the cause of your changes to memory. You can still work with your doctor to bring them back into a normal range for good health, but they aren’t enough to explain your symptoms.
Get a check-up with your healthcare provider and ask for what we call "screening cognitive blood work", to look for some (rare) but reversible causes of memory problems.
STEP 3: Stay consistent
Your memory likely changed gradually over the years as your brain balance became off-center - it will take time to gradually recover.
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see changes overnight.
If your memory problems are coming from medications, alcohol, or sleep apnea, often you can see improvement in as little as 3 month once these issues are fixed.
If your memory problems are coming from heart-health, emotional-health, or lack of stimulation, this can take longer. You should still see some improvement in about 6 months, and in some people even sooner, but don’t get discouraged if you don’t notice immediate changes after one week of effort!
The important thing is consistency. For help with staying motivated, read this.
Some memory problems are quick fixes - and others take consistent effort. Keep going!
In closing…
Memory problems appear when your brain balance (aka cognitive reserve) is tilted too far to the side of damage, rather than strength.
To fix your balance, you need to fix the underlying cause
8 big, reversible causes include: certain medications, alcohol, poor sleep and sleep apnea, depression or anxiety, poor blood flow from poor heart health, lack of stimulation, and falls causing head injuries, and certain medical conditions.
Even once your memory improves, continue to protect your memory by addressing any other preventable causes of dementia, with the aldora 18.
Disclaimer: The content on Aldora Health is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. For more read our Terms of Use.