Memory is one of the most important functions of the human brain, with which psychic activity, intellectual and intellectual abilities, acquisition of new knowledge, etc. are inextricably linked.
That's why a lot of research is devoted to its study: physiological, biochemical, clinical, pharmacological and others. Functions related to memory are called mnemonic in another way.
Memory is a multifaceted complex process that includes many components: visual, auditory, taste, figurative, logical, symbolic, associative, olfactory, tactile, emotional, motor, visceral and a number of others.
Some of these, such as visual memory, are also present in animals;Others, for example, logical or associative, are specific to humans. All of them in a complex form the universal ability of the brain to fix, remember and extract information.
However, with a number of pathological processes in the body, memory functions can be subject to various disorders. Disorders are manifested in various forms: the development of amnesia( the total loss of memory or the complete loss of any of its fragments), paramnesia( "deception of memory" and its filling with false information), and dysmnesia( partial frustration of memory ability).
Among these disorders, dysmnesia is the most common, memory impairment can occur with a number of organic and functional disorders.
Mechanisms and causes of the development of
Dysmnesia Memory deterioration is due to a variety of different pathological conditions, but the immediate causes of its decline can be summarized as follows:
- circulatory disorders in the brain;
- disorders of brain oxygenation, hypoxia;
- dysregulation of the central nervous system, its dysfunction;
- metabolic disorders in the brain tissues, in particular, metabolic disorders of amino acids, phospholipids, zinc;
- mass death of brain cells( eg, in trauma or severe infectious diseases);
- hormonal disorders;
- beriberi;
- side effects of medications( sedatives, hypnotics, etc.);
- intoxication and poisoning;
- mental disorders.
Often, there may not be one, but several mechanisms for reducing memory. If we talk about diseases that can cause memory loss, then there are a lot of them, in particular:
- atherosclerosis;
- hypertension;
- traumatic, infectious, oncological and other brain diseases and their consequences;
- Alzheimer's disease;
- strokes and their consequences;
- encephalopathy;
- neuroses, depression;
- epilepsy;
- effects of meningitis and encephalitis;
- addiction, alcoholism;
- mental illness( schizophrenia, psychosis, etc.);
- diabetes mellitus;
- malignant tumors, hepatic and renal insufficiency, thyrotoxicosis and other pathologies, accompanied by chronic intoxication of the body.
How it looks and feels
Memory impairment, as a rule, is not an isolated syndrome and is accompanied by all sorts of symptoms related to the causative disease:
- with irritability, anxiety, sleep disturbances;
- for atherosclerosis - headache, dizziness, asthenia;
- with depression - loss of appetite, drowsiness, apathy, etc.
As for the symptoms themselves of the dysmnesia itself, the memory disorders with it can be modal-specific and modal-nonspecific. In the first case, one of the forms of memory( for example, visual, associative, auditory) suffers, in the second case all types of memory are violated. Such differences in symptoms depend on the volume and location of brain disorders.
Usually, dysmnesia disrupts the memorization of recent events that occurred in recent weeks, months or years. As for those situations that took place before the brain's ability to fix it, the patient well remembers them and often can tell in details and details.
Pathological memory loss should be distinguished from such common situations as elementary absent-mindedness, forgetfulness, inattention.
These phenomena can occur in completely healthy people, their occurrence is usually associated with commonplace reasons, for example, information congestion at work( the situation can be corrected by ordinary vacation), lack of interest in the subject of memorization, etc.
It is interesting that in some pathological conditions, there may be occasional short-term exacerbations, increased memory. This happens, for example, with some manic conditions, alcohol or drug intoxication, epilepsy, etc.
However, as a rule, such episodes are short-lived and have the character of a short "flash", after which "fading" and a slowly progressing decrease in mnestic functions occur.
Correct diagnosis and effective treatment
Because memory impairment usually occurs against a background of various diseases, then the treatment of dysmnesia should primarily include therapy for the underlying ailment. Of course, if the diagnosis is not specified in full, then this must be preceded by the necessary examinations: computer and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, biochemical and hormonal blood tests, an electroencephalogram, necessary examinations of internal organs, vessels, etc. Also, with the help of special tests, the degree and severity of memory impairment can be investigated and evaluated.
After the cause of dysmnesia is clear, you can go directly to treatment. In this case, depending on the pathogenesis of the development of memory disorders in specific diseases, in addition to the general set of treatment activities,
- preparations for improving the cerebral circulation ( Cavinton, Trental, Nimotop, Cinnarizine, nicotinic acid) can be prescribed;
- metabolic, antihypoxic agents, antioxidants ( Carnitine, Actovegin, Mexidol and others);
- detoxification therapy ( intravenous infusion of infusion solutions, antidotes for poisoning);
- sedatives, antidepressants ;
- Vitaminotherapy , etc.
In addition, there are specific drugs for improving memory functions that can be used for any form of dysmnesia, regardless of the causes and mechanisms of development. First of all, this includes, of course, an extensive group of nootropic drugs.
These are drugs that have a specific positive effect on the higher functions of the brain: mental activity, memory, thinking ability, clarity of consciousness, the processes of cognition and mental perception. Nootropics improve the energy processes in the central nervous system, activate metabolism in central neurons, increase the resistance of brain cells to various extreme factors, contribute to the restoration of brain tissue in its damage.
Currently, a group of nootropics includes many different drugs, differing in chemical structure and mechanism of action. Without going into the details of the classification, we list briefly those of the nootropic drugs that are most effective in the treatment of dysmnesia and other memory disorders:
- Piracetam( Nootropil) - as already mentioned above, the first drug from this group, still not lost its value. Produced in many countries in the world in the form of ampoules for intravenous and intramuscular injection, tablets, capsules, children's syrups.
- Piritinol( Encephabol) is very effective in the treatment of memory disorders and other CNS functions. Dosage forms: tablets, syrup.
- Semax - available in the form of nasal drops, has a quick and effective effect on mnestic functions, is particularly effective in vascular and traumatic disorders.
- Cortexin - has a polypeptide structure, is used in the form of intramuscular injections, has a pronounced positive effect on memory impairments and a number of other brain disorders.
- Fenotropil is a new nootropic preparation of the Russian manufacture, in terms of its effect on memory functions, it surpasses other means from this group. Produced in the form of tablets, it has no direct analogues among foreign medicines.
- Cerebrolysin is effective in dysmnesia associated with Alzheimer's disease and cerebrovascular disorders. It is used intravenously and intramuscularly.
Another group of drugs widely used for the treatment of diseases that accompany forgetfulness are those containing phospholipids. The most important role of phospholipids in providing memory mechanisms was discovered relatively recently, and since then many such drugs have appeared to treat menses: Memori Sharp, Lecithin, Phosphatidylserine, Memovit B12 and others.
The advantages of phospholipids include the fact that they have almost no side effects and have a positive effect also on a number of other organs: liver, hair, skin, vessels, etc.
Finally, with slightly impaired memory disorders, one can turn to folk methods and diets. Some of the folk remedies, such as the leaves of the Ginkgo Biloba tree, have been firmly rooted in traditional medicine, and dozens of different preparations are produced on their basis.
Of other means, which can be resorted to: the use of chocolate, honey, nuts, olive oil, ginger, protein diets.
Prevention of mnestic disorders
Measures to prevent memory loss include, first, a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition. The use of fresh fruits, vegetables, seafood, regular exercise, memory training with logic games and special tests - all this helps to keep the memory healthy for many years.
Of great importance is the rejection of harmful habits - the use of alcohol, smoking, etc. The important role of the correct mode of work and rest, avoidance of stressful situations, excessive emotional stress is undoubtedly important.
Finally, another important condition is attentive attitude to one's health: timely examinations, as well as prevention, detection and treatment of causative diseases leading to the development of memory impairments.