Signs of a Memory Problem
A person might — or might not — be able to notice signs of his or her
own memory problem. If someone has suffered a brain injury, doctors, nurses, and family
members will be on the alert for signs of trouble.
Someone who has a memory problem will be unable to remember important things for
varying lengths of time. The more severe the illness or injury, the longer the memory
loss is likely to last. Some people forget just the moments right before and after
an injury, which is not unusual with a concussion. Sometimes, these memories come
back.
More significant problems with memory, such as in Alzheimer's disease, might make
it hard to remember what happened days, weeks, months, or even years ago, and it can
be difficult to learn and remember new things.
What Will the Doctor Do?
Any time a person has been hit in the head, it's important to see a doctor. A doctor
will test the person's ability to recall events, names, or places by asking lots of
questions. In the case of a suspected brain injury, a doctor may also want to take
a picture of the patient's brain and skull using something called a CT
scan.
If the person has memory loss from a head injury, the doctor will design a treatment
plan to help the brain heal and, if necessary, to help the person relearn things that
have been forgotten. If the memory problem is due to drug or alcohol use, the person
needs to stop abusing these substances before his or her memory will improve.
With strokes, memory can return but it depends on severity and location of the
stroke in the brain. With Alzheimer's, lost memory cannot be restored, but scientists
are working on medicines they hope someday will prevent this kind of memory loss.
Most memory problems affect older people, so what can you do for your memory if
you're 8, not 88? In addition to remembering to wear your helmet, use your brain!
By doing challenging activities, like reading and doing puzzles, you can exercise
your mind so you'll be remembering great memories for many years to come!