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Memory failure: Symptom Causes
Memory failure: Memory failure is listed as an alternate name or description for symptom Forgetfulness.
Causes of Forgetfulness (Memory failure): See detailed list of causes below.
Medical Book Extracts related to Forgetfulness (Memory failure): Refer to the excerpt book sections about Forgetfulness below.
- Introduction: Forgetfulness
- Causes (182 conditions)
- Causes of Types
- Diagnostic Guides
- Drug causes (20 listings)
- Drug interaction causes (1 listings)
- Diagnostic tests (25 listings)
- Questions your doctor may ask (and why) (18 listings)
- Videos
- Combined symptoms
- News (12 listings)
Forgetfulness (medical symptom): Forgetting things or loss of memory ability
Introduction: Memory failure
Forgetfulness (medical symptom): Loss of memory is a common symptom, particular in the elderly. Memory loss may also be associated with concentration symptoms. Many people fear a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease but many other possibilities exist, including simply the normal deterioration of memory function with aging. Other possibilities include the side effects of various medications and other medical conditions such as depression, anxiety, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, certain brain conditions (e.g. stroke or brain tumors) and various types of dementia. Any memory-related symptoms need prompt professional medical advice to determine the correct diagnosis.
Article Excerpts for Memory failure:
Forgetfulness (medical symptom): A lot of people experience memory lapses. Some memory problems are serious, and others are not. People who have serious changes in their memory, personality, and behavior may suffer from a form of brain disease called dementia. Dementia seriously affects a person's ability to carry out daily activities. Alzheimer's disease is one of many types of dementia. (Source: excerpt from Forgetfulness It's Not Always What You Think - Age Page - Health Information: NIA)
Causes of Forgetfulness (Memory failure)
The list of causes of Forgetfulness (Memory failure) includes:
- Some everyday causes of forgetfulness may include:
- Tiredness - see also causes of tiredness
- Concentration problems - see also causes of concentration difficulty
- Pregnancy - some level of forgetfulness is common in pregnant women.
- New mother - adjusting to a new baby also commonly leads to forgetfulness (such as from tiredness).
» See full list of 63 causes of Forgetfulness
»Find out more about causes and symptoms of Forgetfulness (Memory failure) at the Symptom Center
More Specific Symptoms for Memory failure:
Review the causes of the following types of more specific symptoms for Memory failure:
- Memory disturbances
- Temporary memory loss
- Amnesia
- Loss of memory
- Poor memory
- Short-term memory loss
- Memory loss
Related Symptoms for Memory failure
Research the causes of these related symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Memory failure:
Broader Symptom Types for Memory failure:
Research the causes of these symptoms that are more broader types of symptom than Memory failure:
More Symptom Information for Memory failure
For a medical symptom description of 'Memory failure', the following symptom information may be relevant to the symptoms: Forgetfulness (symptom). However, note that other causes of the symptom 'Memory failure' may be possible.
More information on symptom: Forgetfulness:
Medical Textbook Extracts for Memory failure
Free access to excerpts from published medical book extracts about the causes and diagnosis of Forgetfulness from the following published medical books is available for more detailed information that is related to Memory failure.
Amnesia
(In a Page: Signs and Symptoms)
... Amnesia is an inability to remember prior events and process new information despite a normal level of consciousness. The memory center in the brain is housed in the... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment ... READ EXCERPT »
AMNESIA
(Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care)
... The most common causes of this disorder are head injury, epilepsy, migraine, drug use, and hysteria. However, it is wise to have a systematic method of remembering the many etiologies to avoid mistakes in diagnosis. The ... READ EXCERPT »
MEMORY LOSS AND DEMENTIA
(Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care)
... Memory loss is a real symptom and sign, but organic brain syndrome should be dropped from usage because it is a wastebasket term. Unless the memory loss is functional (“ ... READ EXCERPT »
Amnesia
(Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition))
... Amnesia — a disturbance in, or loss of, memory — may be classified as partial or complete and as anterograde or retrograde. Anterograde amnesia denotes memory... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPT »
Confusion
(Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition))
... An umbrella term for puzzling or inappropriate behavior or responses, confusion is the inability to think quickly and coherently. Depending on the cause, it may arise suddenly or gradually and may be... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... READ EXCERPT »
Alzheimer's disease
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
... Alzheimer’s disease, also called primary degenerative dementia, accounts for more than half of all dementias. It results in memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, personality changes,... Causes and incidence ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPT »
Dissociative amnesia
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
... The essential feature of dissociative amnesia is a sudden inability to recall important personal information that can’t be explained by ordinary forgetfulness. The patient typically is... Causes ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPT »
Amnesia
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))
... Amnesia—a disturbance in, or loss of, memory—may be classified as partial or complete and as anterograde or retrograde. Anterograde amnesia denotes memory loss for events that occurred after... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPT »
Confusion
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))
... An umbrella term for puzzling or inappropriate behavior or responses, confusion is the inability to think quickly and coherently. Depending on its cause, confusion may arise suddenly or gradually... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... READ EXCERPT »
Confusion
(The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter)
... Mark W. Nickels Acute confusional states represent an etiologically diverse spectrum of disorders that may involve alterations in thinking, perception... Approach ... History ... Physical examination ... Testing ... Diagnostic assessment ... READ EXCERPT »
Memory Impairment
(The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter)
... Konrad C. Nau Memory is the cognitive domain that gives us the ability to store and retrieve information. Up to 80% of community dwelling elderly report subjective... Approach ... History ... Physical examination (PE) ... Testing ... Diagnostic assessment ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPT »
Amnesia
(Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis)
... Differential Overview ❑ Concussion ❑ Alzheimer disease ❑ Drugs ... Diagnostic Approach ... Clinical Findings ... READ EXCERPT »
Alzheimer's disease
(Handbook of Diseases)
... Also known as primary degenerative dementia, Alzheimer’s disease accounts for more than half of all dementias. An estimated 5% of people over age 65 have a severe form of this disease, and 12% suffer from mild... Causes ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... READ EXCERPT »
Confusion
(Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses)
... An umbrella term for puzzling or inappropriate behavior or responses, confusion is the inability to think quickly and coherently. Depending on its cause, confusion may arise suddenly or gradually and may... History ... Physical assessment ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPT »
Amnesia
(Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms)
... Amnesia—a disturbance in, or loss of, memory—may be classified as partial or complete and as anterograde or retrograde. Anterograde amnesiadenotes memory loss of events that occurred after the... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... READ EXCERPT »
Confusion
(Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms)
... An umbrella term for puzzling or inappropriate behavior or responses, confusion is the inability to think quickly and coherently. Depending on the cause, it may arise suddenly... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... READ EXCERPT »
Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.
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