As some people age, they experience little-to-no change in their memory. Others, however, may gradually become more forgetful to the point where it starts to disrupt their daily lives. According to the senior care experts at Longhorn Village in Austin, TX, this can be brought on by a number of health problems.

Below, they highlight a few of the risk factors that can cause this cognitive issue:

• Malnutrition: Malnutrition and malabsorption of essential minerals, such as vitamin B12, can lead to debilitating cognitive conditions. Vitamin B12 is responsible for keeping the nerve cells healthy, which ensures all messages are properly delivered to the brain. Seniors often have a deficiency of this vitamin due to decreased food intake and other dietary changes. B12 injections or supplements are often enough to mitigate the problem.

• Depression:  Pathological changes that prevent the brain from retaining information, both long- and short-term, can be due to prolonged depression. Fortunately, the condition can be managed with proper senior care and treatment from a mental health professional.

• Alcoholism & Drug Abuse: Alcohol and narcotic drugs alter the brain’s chemical composition. If abused, these substances can become addictive and lead to thiamine deficiency, which is the most common culprit of brain degeneration and a host of other diseases, like Alzheimer’s.

• Aging: As the brain ages, its ability to transmit nerve impulses declines—and so does its ability to retain information. While mild forgetfulness is a normal part of growing older, many seniors also experience Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other age-related mental issues.

• Sleep Deprivation: Poor-quality sleep among seniors can result in significant brain deterioration. A lack of sleep prevents memories from reaching the prefrontal cortex of the brain, resulting in forgetfulness and even false memories. 

Holistic senior care, a healthy diet, and regular brain stimulation are key in delaying the progression of memory loss among the elderly. Longhorn Village offers compassionate assisted living for seniors in Austin, TX, and they specialize in providing quality elderly care and memory care based around community living. Visit their website to learn all about their services and their world-class amenities, and give them a call at (512) 266-5600 to speak with a staff member today.