Memory Loss Can Be Caused By Many Factors
Typically considered as problem that gets worse with age, memory loss is not strictly for older people. The loss of being able to remember small details or a wider range of things can happen to people of any age and there are certain factors in experiences and throughout daily lives that can block out certain memories, or at least make them harder to recall. Additionally, not every episode of memory loss will be cause for concern, but there are certain issues affecting a person's memory that may require some attention.
It is fairly easy to determine whether a person is suffering from minor memory loss or if they are suffering from disease such as dementia. It is normal for most folks to have minor issues with their memory, such as forgetting where they left the car keys or someone's birthday, but when they begin to forget things more often, it may be a sign of trouble. A person suffering from dementia, for example will experience a degradation in their recall abilities that grown worse over time. Suffering from normal memory loss will usually remain unchanged.
Persons may need help with their memory loss when they forget how to do things that they have done in the past. They may also have trouble learning how to do new things and will probably have trouble making decisions or remembering what they did each day.
Different Memories Stored In Different Vaults
The brain works in mysterious ways as it captures the most recent events and stores them in one section of the brain while memories of years ago are stored in a different area of the brain. For most people memory loss is not necessarily the result of the memory being wiped clean as it is an inability to recall where the information was stored and access it for positive recall.
It is usual for people to forget certain words or meanings, but for the most part they will eventually be remembered. Serious memory loss of a disease such as Alzheimer's may begin with the loss of recent memory while the individual can recall every detail of their childhood. Over time, medical reasons for memory loss will cause the loss of all cognitive function.
There are also subconscious aspects of suffering what some believe to be memory loss, but the reality is they chose not to put the information into storage. Selective memory is a good example of only remembering certain thoughts and events, usually prevailed by positive events while ignoring the negative.