“Now let me see ... where did I leave that key?”

Memory loss: When is it serious and when is it not? Kumudini Hettiarachchi speaks to Consultant Neurologist Dr. M.T.M. Riffsy

The name of a friend is at the tip of the tongue, but it just slips away. The more you wrack your brains, the more elusive it is. The right word, while making conversation, dances just out of reach. You know it but cannot grab hold and say it out loud. There is a frantic search for that important document but you cannot find it in the place you are sure you kept it. Much later while looking for something else you come across that in a different place.

It's scary. Are you losing your mind?

"As one grows older there can be a degree of mild memory loss. It is usually not a big deficit, only to a certain extent even though the person may not be suffering from hypertension and diabetes which could cause serious memory loss," reassures Consultant Neurologist Dr. M.T.M. Riffsy who is attached to the National Hospital in Colombo, explaining that memory can be grouped into two - short-term and long-term.

Forgetfulness is common as the aging process takes place. "On meeting a classmate after about 20 years, you may remember everything about him, where he sat in class, where he lived and what he liked but may not be able to recall his name in a hurry," says Dr. Riffsy.

Such forgetfulness may occur due to stress, MediScene understands and other contributory factors such as overwork, family problems, too many commitments or even anxiety.

Forgetting names is not a disease, he stresses, adding however that you can suspect trouble if suddenly you can't remember what you did in the morning, the last meal you ate, can't count, add or subtract or can't calculate the balance that you have to get after buying something.

Simple memory loss could also mimic the early stages of severe memory loss which could be a disease in itself resulting from vascular problems which could restrict the supply of blood and in turn oxygen to the brain or an infection in the central nervous system, it is understood.

"Heavy smoking, hypertension or high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, heavy alcohol consumption could all lead to vascular problems and also stroke, which could reduce memory," says Dr. Riffsy, explaining that in rare instances even a brain tumour could be the cause.

Gradually, such memory loss will develop to such an extent that the person may not know which road he lives down or can't recognize his home or even find his room. Neuro-degenerative disease or serious short-term memory loss could also be a sign of the onset of Alzheimer's disease, says Dr. Riffsy, adding that this is the 7th commonest cause of death in America.

Referring to dementia, he deals with Fronto-temporal dementia and Lewy body dementia and explains that heavy alcohol intake and nutritional deficiencies could result in cerebral atrophy (loss of brain cells) which in turn could lead to dementia. "Toxic substances which may restrict oxygen intake or increased inhalation of carbon monoxide could also result in memory loss."

Advising people to take a diet not only rich in protein but also vitamins especially Vitamin B, he urges that balanced meals inclusive of proteins, vegetables and fruit should be able to ward off memory loss.

A memory problem is serious if it affects daily living, while a major difference between normal memory problems and dementia would be that normal memory loss does not get worse over time, he says. And if you think you are losing your memory……. "Go to your family doctor first," stresses Dr. Riffsy, adding that he will examine and assess you and then tell you whether you need to seek the expertise of a specialist in the form of a neuro-physician and a psychologist.

"They will then assess the patient's memory based on the patient's educational level, occupation and environment he lives in, followed up with blood tests and a brain scan depending on the need," he adds.