VIDEO: Root Causes of Memory Loss

Host: When we talk to patients, we want to make sure their memory isn't so bad that it's interfering with their daily activities. In other words, if you can't carry out your daily tasks or do your work properly, that's a problem. But from a preventive point of view, we want to target memory problems as soon as they begin — we don't want them to reach the point where they need serious medical attention. So with natural medicine, through diet, supplements, hormone balancing, and other natural techniques, there are ways we can help improve memory. Of course, we always want to treat the root cause of why memory is starting to decline.

So let's start at the beginning — what's the most common age when people start forgetting things?

Dr. Stengler: We find with patients that usually around the mid-40s, many start to notice their short-term memory beginning to decrease. Not enough to be a real problem — they can still do their work fine — but they start misplacing keys more easily, or forgetting the name of someone they just met. So usually around the mid-40s it starts to become somewhat of a concern for a lot of people.

Host: Is that really because we're getting busier, or is it because with age we're starting to forget things due to hormones or diet? Are there two reasons, or...?

Dr. Stengler: Oh, there are many, many different reasons, and we'll get into those. It can come down to nutritional status — if you're low on certain nutrients or not eating the right foods. Stress certainly plays a big role in memory issues. Some medications can decrease memory and cognitive function. Genetics can play a role. Hormone balance. There are many things that can affect a person's memory, which is why in natural medicine we always like to look at the root causes and target those. Beyond that, we'll talk later about specific memory-boosting supplements anyone can take to help improve their memory.

Host: Let's talk about the causes first, because I look at myself — when I get busier and busier I tend to forget things. I mean, you've probably got your iPhone with you putting appointments on your calendar just like I do. Is that normal, or is it a problem? When does it become a problem?

Dr. Stengler: People who are very busy certainly can experience a decreased ability to focus and remember things. Again, if it's becoming habitual or you're not able to carry through on your daily activities properly, it's a problem. Part of the reason that occurs is when people are under chronic stress, too busy, not getting enough sleep — your stress hormone cortisol is elevated. Studies have shown that definitely interferes with your brain's ability to function properly, to remember things, to retrieve information from memory, and to communicate effectively. So part of it can be related to stress hormone balance.

Host: Interesting. What are some other causes of decreased memory?

Dr. Stengler: One of the common causes we find with patients is poor nutrition. Your brain is 60% fat, so if you're not getting enough of the right fats in your diet, that can lead to cognitive problems. In fact, a number of studies have shown that even if your cholesterol is too low — which you typically find with very low-fat diets — that can cause memory problems. In the American diet, a lot of people aren't getting enough omega-3 fatty acids, found in cold-water fish and some nuts and seeds. Those are the good fatty acids that make up the cell membrane of all your brain cells, so information can flow in and out of the cell properly. That's very important.

That said, your brain also needs saturated fat. People always think saturated fat is something bad, but you need saturated fat for normal brain development and function. That's why you don't want kids on low-fat diets — they need it for proper brain development and cognitive function. And then there are the bad fats, like trans fatty acids, which a lot of people are aware of nowadays — typically found in fast foods and some packaged foods — and those can cause damage to your brain cells. So eating a cleaner diet, more fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants, and getting those omega-3 fatty acids — those are some of the key things people need.

Dr. Stengler: Low B12 also decreases your ability to focus and remember things. In fact, in seniors, vitamin B12 deficiency — which affects on average one out of every four seniors in America — actually leads to shrinkage of the brain. MRI studies have shown that when seniors are deficient in vitamin B12, their brain can actually shrink by up to a third. In medical terms we call it atrophy. So the brain actually shrinks, and of course that affects memory — and it is actually one of the causes of dementia in seniors. So that's a very common cause.

Another area is medications. People sometimes don't realize that the medications they're taking can lead to poor memory. For example, medications used for seizures, and sometimes certain high blood pressure medications. So you should always check whether decreased memory or cognitive function is listed as a side effect of any medication you're taking.

Host: What about hormones? Let's specifically talk about women. A woman comes in, she's menopausal, and she's talking about her memory problems. Do you look at hormones as a cause, or just as one more issue contributing to other symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings? Can hormonal imbalance actually cause memory problems?

Dr. Stengler: Oh, absolutely. With menopausal women, drops in estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and even thyroid can certainly cause memory impairment. It's one of the common symptoms of menopause — decreased memory and cognitive function. Studies have also been done on women using estrogen replacement, and it is one of the few things shown in menopausal women to improve cognitive function. For some women, studies even show it decreases their risk of Alzheimer's disease. These hormones have powerful effects on the brain — they actually help the brain make the neurotransmitters, the brain chemicals you need not just for mood but for memory as well.

Host: Let's go back to the dementia versus Alzheimer's distinction. When would you know the difference? People may think they're just going through age-related dementia versus Alzheimer's — but those are very different things.

Dr. Stengler: Yes. The common term used is age-associated memory impairment — basically, as people get older their cognitive function starts to decline. These people really can be helped with diet, nutritional supplements, and hormone balancing. Then you have the broader category called dementia, and Alzheimer's falls within that category. There are different degrees of severity of memory loss, with Alzheimer's being the most severe.

Host: So now we've been talking about nutrition and exercise. But we need to step back and talk about digestion — because you can't properly absorb your food or your supplements if digestion is poor. And when you're stressed out, or as we get older and acid production decreases, we have an absorption issue.

Dr. Stengler: That's true. In holistic and naturopathic medicine, we always look at the digestive tract. As people age, their ability to break down foods and absorb nutrients from food and supplements often decreases. That's a problem — you can take all these things, but if you can't absorb them, you're not going to get the nutritional support your cells need, including your brain cells. So as holistic doctors, we always look at improving a patient's digestion, even as part of helping their memory. That is absolutely true.

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