Depressive disorders can affect how you think, feel, and act. Can they also impact what you remember? Could depression cause memory loss?
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Can Depression Cause Memory Loss?
Can the effects of depression include memory loss? Yes, they can.
Not everyone who develops a depressive disorder will experience problems with memory. But for those who do, the effects can include a worsening of other symptoms and a greater reduction in overall quality of life.
The link between depression and memory loss
A January 2018 article in the journal Trends in Neuroscience described the link between depression and memory troubles as “clinically important but poorly understood.”
According to that article, people with depression typically experience three types of memory problems:
- Poor memory for positive events
- Potentiated (strengthened) memory for negative events
- Impaired recollection
Though experts have not yet established a clear cause-effect relationship between depression and memory loss, the Trends in Neuroscience article identified several factors that may contribute to the problem, including:
- Decreased volume in the hippocampus, which is a part of the brain that plays a key role in episodic memory. This refers a person’s ability to form and retrieve memories of specific events, experiences, and information from their past.
- Diminished hippocampal neurogenesis, which is the brain’s ability to create new nerve cells throughout a person’s life.
- Dysfunctional release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter (brain chemical) that influences learning, motivation, pleasure, and memory.
- Altered activity within the amygdala, a brain region that is involved in consolidating long-term memories and linking memories with emotions.
Research suggests that there is a bidirectional relationship between depression and these types memory-related brain changes. In other words, depression may worsen brain functioning, while abnormal brain functioning can exacerbate depression.
Also, chronic stress can increase a person’s risk of both depression and the brain changes identified above. For this reason, the authors of the Trends In Neuroscience proposed that depression-related memory problems may be “downstream consequences of chronic stress.”
Other cognitive effects of depression
Given the impact that depressive disorders and chronic stress can have on brain structure and functioning, it’s perhaps not surprising that depression’s influence on cognition isn’t limited to memory impairments.
Other cognitive effects that have been linked with depression include:
- Slowed responsiveness
- Diminished ability to focus and concentrate
- Difficulty paying attention
- Confusion and absentmindedness
- Feeling mentally exhausted
As with memory problems, these other cognitive effects can both contribute to and be affected by a person’s mood-related symptoms.
Is There Treatment for Depression-Related Memory Loss?
To prevent or reverse depression-related memory loss, you have to address the underlying cause: the depression itself. Depending on your specific circumstances, the best way to do this may involve self-care and/or professional treatment.
Self-care
Once memory loss or any other depression symptoms reach a certain point, professional care may be a necessity. But as the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So before things get too bad, here are a few self-care options that may help:
- Take care of your body: Following a healthy diet, exercising on a regular basis, and getting an appropriate amount of sleep every night are the pillars of effective self-care. In addition to strengthening your body, these steps can also boost your brainpower.
- Minimize your substance use: Building a healthy diet plan isn’t limited to knowing what you should eat and drink. It also involves understanding what to keep out of your system. Alcohol, cannabis, and other recreational substances can weaken your body and slow your mind.
- Challenge your mind: Take classes. Read. Listen to audiobooks. Do crossword puzzles. Learn how to play an instrument. Activities like these can reduce boredom, improve your mood, and help you keep your mind as sharp as possible.
- Avoid isolation: When you struggle with depression, associating with other people can often be low on your priority list. But cutting yourself off from those who care about you can magnify the problem, while spending time with others can ease your symptoms.
Treatment options
Sometimes, even the best self-care isn’t enough to resolve the symptoms or effects of depression. Please know that there is no shame in seeking professional help for a mental health disorder, just like there’s no reason to feel guilty for consulting a doctor to treat a medical problem.
Depression treatment often involves a combination of medication and therapy. Various prescription medications may ease some depression symptoms, while therapy can help you learn to better manage symptoms that aren’t alleviated via meds alone.
Depending on your unique circumstances, you may benefit from therapies such as:
- Individual psychotherapy
- Group sessions
- Family counseling and support
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Red light therapy
- Holistic therapies
- Trauma-focused therapies
There’s no “perfect” treatment technique or course of care that works for everyone. That’s why it’s so important to find a provider who offers an array of services and can develop a truly customized plan just for you.
Find Depression Treatment in Atlanta
North Atlanta Behavioral Health is a trusted source of customized outpatient programming for adults whose lives have been disrupted by depression, other mental health conditions, and co-occurring substance use disorders (addictions).
Treatment options at our center in Atlanta, GA, include a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and an outpatient program (OP). In each of these programs, you can expect to receive focused care and comprehensive support from a team of highly skilled professionals.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
