Depressive Disorder which is commonly known as depression involves a state of depressed mood and is linked to problems related to memory. This also leads to a lack of focus and interest in your work, decision-making, and other tasks for a longer time. The other reasons for memory loss include stress and anxiety.
Depression is a mental disorder and it is not the same as mood changes that a normal person has in everyday life. It affects a lot of people and things that are around you like family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and many others. It is only related to short-term memory loss and does not affect procedural and long-term memory. In this article, we discuss the insights and the relationship between depression and forgetfulness, the causes of memory loss, and the cognitive effects of depressive symptoms.
Who can get depression?
Depression is a multifaceted mental health condition that can happen to anybody of any age group. People who have experienced bad or negative situations in their life who have undergone abuse, and other stressful scenarios. Loneliness is one of the causes of depression. It is observed that women have more depression when compared to men and are diagnosed nearly twice the number of men with depression.
Causes for depression
Several reasons and situations might lead a person to depression some of them to be mentioned are –
Personality- A person may be more vulnerable to depression and also might possess some traits. This is because of the genomic composition that is been inherited by parents, the biological factor that includes genetic and brain chemistry might lead a person to a state of depression.
Generational history- if anyone in the family had depression earlier it is likely to get developed in the next-gen as well. It is usually caused when a person has undergone a bad past life with violence and abuse. For women depression might caused after pregnancy due to hormonal and physical variations, along with this the responsibilities might lead to a disturbed mind state.
Bad habits- people addict themselves to bad activities like drinking, smoking, and taking drugs which results in depression. The content of cannabis will relax you but also bring the risk of depression.
Memory loss with depression
People with major depressive disorder (MDD) will experience the issue of memory loss and can see changes in some parts of the brain like the shrinking of the hippocampus. In the research, it is also shown that in some people the condition of major depressive disorder will lead to lower brain volume and hence cause memory loss.
According to Aron Tendler, MD, people who are not depressed will gain hundreds of new nerve cells every day. But the people with the condition MDD will not gain many new nerve cells due to stress and hence result in less volume adds Dr. Tendler
The other causes that lead to memory loss are Alzheimer’s disease which is a common form of dementia, minor injury in the head, side effects of medication, and deficiency of vitamin B-12 can also in memory. The brain and nerve damage that are caused by Parkinson’s. It is also observed that people with Parkinson’s are most likely to get depression.
Some of the common methods of diagnosis for memory loss are, that the doctor will perform a test that will help them in identifying the cause, which will also help in understanding the extent and seriousness of the memory loss. The related tests like MRI scanning and in some conditions, you might also be referred to a neurologist for further Diagnosis
Memory loss that is caused due to depression is generally managed by counseling therapy in a regular fashion and with medication of antidepressants. Other things like leading an active lifestyle and involving yourself in social activities can help in managing the problem.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the relationship between depression and forgetfulness is multifaceted and warrants careful consideration. Depression effects can be seen from the change in the part of the brain to behavior in the workplace and lifestyle of a person. However, by addressing lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, and social support, individuals can take proactive steps to mitigate memory loss and enhance their overall well-being. Fostering awareness about mental health can help reduce the burden of memory loss related to depression and enhance people’s lives affected by this condition.