Impaired memory

A disturbance of the ability to encode, store, or retrieve information, manifesting as reduced capacity for new learning or recall of previously acquired material. It ranges from benign forgetfulness to severe cognitive disorders.

Causes

• Psychiatric causes

  • Stress

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

• Medication and substances impairing cognition

  • Sedatives

  • Antidepressants

  • Alcohol abuse

  • Recreational drug use

• Nutritional and metabolic causes

  • Vitamin B12 deficiency

  • Hypothyroidism

  • Liver failure

  • Kidney failure

• Infectious and systemic causes

  • Urinary tract infection

  • Delirium

  • Sepsis and other severe systemic illnesses

• Sleep-related causes

  • Obstructive sleep apnea

  • Chronic sleep deprivation

• Neurological causes

  • Alzheimer's disease

  • Dementia with Lewy bodies

  • Other dementias

  • Stroke

  • Traumatic brain injury

  • Brain tumor

  • Mild cognitive impairment

  • Hydrocephalus

  • Epilepsy

  • Chronic neuroinflammatory disorders

• Normal aging