Forgetting your appointments, misplacing your keys, getting lost in the street… This memory loss can be linked to age or a neurodegenerative disease. How to distinguish the different memory disorders? What are the warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease?
The memory disorders or memory problems may relate to old or recent memory and make it difficult or even impossible torecording of a memory, long-term storage or recovery. The memory loss is frequent, usually benign but sometimes more serious when they are the result of head traumaof a strokeneurological disease (Alzheimer’s)… Definition, causes, characteristics, treatments, support: everything you need to know about memory problems.
Also called short-term memory or working memory, the immediate memory relates to very recent events. She’s the one who temporarily stores information (being able to immediately repeat a telephone number for example). “Working memory is not real memory in the proper sense of the word, it is more attention. Disorders of immediate memory are not really indicative of a disease, it deteriorates with normal aging. We remember things less well, we need to write them down”, comments Prof. Emmanuelle Duron, neurologist-geriatrician at the Paul Brousse hospital and researcher at INSERM within the MOODS unit. It is also very affected in depressive syndromes. On the other hand, it is not the memory that is affected in the first place in Alzheimer’s disease or very rarely.
Long-term memory allows retain things for a long time.
► Long-term memory includes declarative and non-declarative memory.
► Declarative memory includes episodic memory and semantic memory.
→ “The episodic memory is the one that allows mentally project yourself into significant past memories. It is affected in Alzheimer’s disease but also in depression., explains the neuro-geriatrician. Getting lost in the street, repeatedly forgetting appointments and not finding them, forgetting recent events that should have marked us, such as the birth of a great-grandchild, losing your credit card, losing business repeated, no longer being able to find one’s way in transport… So many memory problems that affect daily life. “It can possibly be warning signs but it is not necessarily pathological. It is a contextual memory loaded with affect and memories. It is the one most often affected first in Alzheimer’s disease.“she continues.
→ The semantic memory is a memory that touches the facts. “For example, if I ask you what is the capital of Italy, you will answer me Rome but normally, you no longer know in what context you learned it. It is altered later in Alzheimer’s disease”, illustrated by Professor Emmanuelle Duron. Sometimes some people forget a whole part of their life. Generally, these are disorders of psychological origin. This can occur as a result of a huge trauma, post-traumatic stress.
the natural brain aging can cause memory problems without necessarily being caused by a neurodegenerative disease. If the subject complains of memory problems but his old memories and his ability to acquire new knowledge are intact, this is normal cognitive aging.
“Memory disturbances may occur post stroke if it takes place in an area that touches the memory. There are also patients who have a lot of small lesions of the white matter and which cause memory and attention disorders”, notes the neuro-geriatrician.
Alzheimer’s disease is a slowly progressive neurodegenerative disease. First, it is characterized by loss of memory concerning recent events, consequent forgetfulness. Then, gradually, a loss of landmarks in time and space, loss of language, difficulty finding words and performing certain gestures. It affects everyday life. Some patients may have behavioral problems (aggressiveness, confusion, anxiety). The diagnosis can only be confirmed after a long series of cognitive assessment tests, also called “memory test”.
“You have to worry when it’s recurring, that it becomes disabling, that it gets worse, when you feel very sad because you risk having a depression and when you realize absolutely nothing and it’s the family who comes to consult someone who remembers nothing. It is then necessary to offer him tests in favor of an organic disorder (Alzheimer’s)”, warns Professor Emmanuelle Duron.
We consult in a memory center where there are neurologists and geriatricians.
The treatment will depend on the cause of the memory problems. “If they are related to age, it will be necessary to stimulate cognitive activity through games such as crosswords and encourage social interaction. If it’s a depression which is at the origin of memory loss, it will be necessary to follow a psychotherapy and taking antidepressants”, exposes the specialist. If it’s a Alzheimer’s disease, there is unfortunately no cure. “Those which slow down the progression of the disease have been de-reimbursed by social security for insufficient effectiveness, even if the French society of geriatrics and neurology did not agree”regrets Professor Emmanuelle Duron.
Research is currently focused on a vaccine, knowing that clinical trials have all failed except one which is still ongoing. “What is very important in memory disorders is to fight against cardiovascular risk factors in the middle of life because they considerably increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease“insists the neurologist-geriatrician.
Thanks to Pr Emmanuelle Duron, neurologist-geriatrician at Paul Brousse hospital and researcher at INSERM within the MOODS unit.