Being forgetful, like misplacing your phone or not being able to remember the name that’s on the tip of your tongue, can be frustrating, but it’s a normal part of life. As we get older, it may happen more frequently because our brains actually start to shrink, according to neuropsychologist Dr. Elise Caccappolo. She explains, “This is why it may take a minute longer to come up with a name or word, or it may take longer to solve a problem.”
But age isn’t the only reason we have these moments of memory loss. Brain experts say brain fog could also be caused by these:
- Medications - It turns out, a lot of common medications can affect memory and if you combine meds, they can interact with each other. Drugs known to impact memory include benzodiazepines (anxiety meds like Xanax and Valium), statins (used to control cholesterol), anti-seizure meds, beta blockers, antidepressants, opioids and a certain class of sleeping pills.
- Depression or anxiety - These are two of the top causes of forgetfulness for those in their 40s, 50s and 60s, according to Caccappolo. “When you’re depressed, your brain is not working at 100%,” she says. “It’s not paying attention to things as well as it usually does, and the memory areas are not doing what they usually do.”
- Diet - Research links ultraprocessed foods with cognitive decline and an increased risk of dementia.
- Sleep - It’s essential for brain health and over time, not getting enough sleep can make it harder to concentrate, learn new things and create new memories, according to the National Institutes of Health.
- Trouble hearing - New research suggests a connection between hearing loss and brain health, but hearing aids can help. The study links hearing aids with a 19% lower risk of long-term cognitive decline.
- Multitasking - Being distracted affects your ability to focus and remember things, and one study finds that multitaskers often have trouble recalling information. And they were young people.
Source: Prevention