Short-term memory

Thank you Elyse Newland for writing her article as I suffer from this.

Do you? Tell me about your story.

Short-term memory is one of the most commonly impacted areas after a stroke. But did you know that other factors can make it worse? Depression, chronic stress, a sleep deficiency, some medications, and malnutrition can also cause issues with short-term memory.

It’s important to look holistically at your situation if you’re experiencing short-term memory issues. Using things like reminders, timers, and other cognitive strategies can be helpful, but figuring out if there are other issues at play, too, can be key to making improvements.

You can ask your physician for lab work to determine if there are vitamin deficiencies or if you’re on any medications that cause short-term memory loss as a side effect.

Assess your sleep. Are you getting enough? Too much? Is your sleep interrupted?

Have you been overwhelmed, stressed, or depressed lately? These issues can take up a lot of your brain space leaving less bandwidth for memory-related tasks.

While short-term memory issues are common after stroke, don’t forget to look at other possible causes. Improving your mood, nutrition, and sleep may also help with short-term memory issues in the long run!

Take care, Elyse

Medical Disclaimer: All content is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to serve as a substitute for medical advice or treatment from a qualified healthcare provider.