Photo by Mark Hooper
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Great Pretenders
By Kelly Griffin, September & October 2005
These common ailments and drugs are known to monkey with memory
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Read All Articles in This Special Report
Inside Jim's Brain: How Scientists Are Untangling the Mysteries of
Alzheimer's
What It Feels Like: A Personal Account of Living With Alzheimer's
He's Still in There: A Daughter's Perspective
Stay Sharp Longer: Nine Simple Things You Can Do
Finding Help: New Choices for People With Early-Stage Alzheimer's
Web Exclusive: Feed Your Head With Healthy Brain Foods
Back to the first article in this Special Report: You’re Wiser Now
Confusion and memory lapses don't always mean Alzheimer's disease.
They may be drug side effects or symptoms of a treatable illness. Here are some
of the most common causes:
Antihistamines These drugs block acetylcholine, a brain chemical
crucial to memory, learning, and concentration. Antihistamines are found in
allergy and cold remedies and in sleeping pills with diphenhydramine and
chlorpheniramine.
Depression Studies have found that when this underdiagnosed condition
is treated, cognitive function often improves.
Hypothyroidism About one tenth of older Americans have low thyroid
function, and this easily treated condition can cause memory problems.
Muscle relaxants and antispasmodic drugs Like antihistamines, these
drugs block the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. In some people, they can hamper
memory, learning, and concentration.
Normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) When the clear fluid that bathes
the brain and spinal cord builds up in the brain, it can cause cognitive
impairment, difficulty walking, and poor bladder control. A shunt that drains
excess fluid sometimes reverses these symptoms.
Sleep apnea When a person repeatedly stops breathing for 10 seconds
or longer during sleep, it wreaks havoc with daytime alertness.
Treatment—either weight loss or the use of a breathing mask at
night—can improve mental functioning.
Tranquilizers Prescribed for anxiety or insomnia, these drugs can
cause confusion and drowsiness. The most likely to do so are Valium (diazepam),
Dalmane (flurazepam), and Librium (chlordiazepoxide); their effects can last
for up to three days in older people.
Traumatic brain injury Even a mild head injury can cause symptoms
that mimic dementia for a few days or weeks. And if an injury causes blood to
accumulate between the inside of the skull and the brain, memory loss may
worsen. Surgery to remove the blood may reverse the memory loss.
Vitamin B12 deficiency Up to 15 percent of people over 65 can no
longer absorb this vitamin from food. A severe lack can cause personality
changes, confusion, loss of balance, and tingling and numbness in the feet and
hands. Replenishing B12 can reverse these symptoms.
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