About Absent-Mindedness - By: Andre Thunestvedt

Human memory presents a world of interesting questions. Why is memory such a fascinating subject? Why does it present so many puzzles? And what about the complexity of physical, psychological and biological aspects? Why are we still wondering about methods for transforming short-term memories into long-term memories?

A host of professionals explore the world of memory. They include psychologists, neurologists, and psychiatrists. Despite this army of professionals, questions about memory remain. Why do we forget short-term information so easily? Why do some memories stick with us, while others are lost completely? When we try hard to remember something—like studying for a driver's exam--why do we forget it anyway?

You may be a forgetful person, with a reputation for absent-mindedness, or someone known for good memory and just occasional lapses. You're in luck today. We're going to tell you about ways to overcome forgetfulness, whether it's chronic or occasional.

Why Do We Forget?

No single condition causes memory loss. When you look at the items below, you may find that one applies, while the rest do not. Take a look at these physical causes of memory loss.

Headaches. Memory loss can result from severe or migraine headaches. Either can cause you to have problems retaining memories or information. You may suffer from migraine "stupor" at the onset or after a migraine or really strong headache. This condition causes forgetfulness—leaving you bewildered or mixed up.

Drugs and Alcohol. These two offenders alter the brain's ability to remember. If you use a lot of mariuana, you'll find it harder to call up data or memories. This memory deficit results from the hallucinogenic properties of mariuana. Alcohol, on the other hand, can permanently damage the parts of the brain used for memory. This results in the heavy drinker's inability to remember dates, events, and facts.

Physical Diseases. A number of physical diseases result in severe memory loss. When such memory losses appear, the first disease to take the blame is often Alzheimer's disease. Indeed, in older individuals, Alzheimer's often underlies memory loss. There are others however. For instance, hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid hormones) also causes lapses in remembering. The hormones involved are needed to keep the brain vigorous, on the ball, and fit.

Head trauma. TV shows and movies often depict people with total amnesia after head trauma or injury. While these shows are somewhat accurate, such forgetfulness is actually quite rare. Memory loss is more often caused by conditions listed above.

About the Author

Andre Thunestvedt has been studying the causes of memory loss and cognitive decline for years, and has written many articles on the subject. He is well-versed in ways to improve memory and has his own website How-Improve-Memory.com Go to his website now and get ten expert tips on improving memory.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Andre-Thunestvedt/31600

Additional Articles From - Home | Health & fitness | Memory loss