Memory is one of the many vital functions of the brain. If we do not remember people, places and events of our life, it would be practically impossible to survive. Memory is the process of encoding, storage and retrieval of information so that it becomes available to an individual at a later date. Short-term memory allows retention of information for a few seconds to a minute; these could be ideas, images, concepts or feelings. It is also known as primary or active memory that holds all the small pieces of information in the person’s mind for a short period of time so that it is immediately put to use at that given moment.
It would however be impossible to survive with such a limited memory reserve of few seconds after which we lose all information.
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A considerable volume of her patients had short-term memory loss. These patients had diverse backgrounds: the elderly with and without Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia; the middle-aged with brain injury, and the young ones with mental health problems. Commonly short-term memory loss is discussed more in the elderly and patients with dementia; however, she enlightened me on short-term memory loss in the middle aged and young as well.
Steptin emphasized that short-term memory loss in the elderly is attributable to a genetic predisposition, disuse atrophy (lessened brain use hence loss of brain cells); as well as due to decreased physical activity. This can be intensified by depression, inadequate nutrition and dehydration. The memory deficit may progress rapidly, steadily, or stay the same. She described one of her patients; an 80-year-old lady with Alzheimer’s who had revealed rapid deterioration such that within 2 months of forgetfulness which was limited to losing objects, she became incoherent and could not recognize her own husband. IN no time she was bed ridden and required help even to fulfill her basic