[Medical Q&A] My memory always "short-circuits", what's wrong?

Planner: Chinese Medical Association

Reviewer: Tian Jinzhou, Chief Physician, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine

This may be one of the manifestations of brain "sub-health". Brain sub-health is medically known as "temporary memory impairment". Simply put, it means that the brain's thinking ability or retrieval ability is temporarily impaired, such as rummaging through a bag to get something and forgetting what you are looking for; calling a friend to talk about something and forgetting what you were going to say as soon as the call is connected, etc., just like a memory "short circuit".

The occurrence of temporary memory impairment is usually related to multiple factors, such as persistent stress or anxiety, long-term lack of sleep, side effects of some drugs (such as antidepressants), drinking, malnutrition, etc. If this "sub-healthy" state of the brain is not improved for a long time, the patient is likely to enter the ranks of Alzheimer's disease early. For example, some office workers have long-term anxiety, tension, and high work pressure, which will affect the secretion and metabolism of adrenaline and norepinephrine, thereby affecting emotions and damaging the hippocampus in the brain. This group of people is prone to Alzheimer's disease.

In daily life, temporary memory impairment can be prevented by the following methods: ① Do more exercise. Exercise can regulate and improve the excitement and inhibition process of the brain, so that the brain function can be fully exerted and the aging of the brain can be delayed. ② Adjust your mentality. When the pressure is too great, learn to let go, be more open-minded, and look at problems outside the "circle". ③ Change your unhealthy lifestyle. Work, study, activities, entertainment and diet should have a certain regularity. Ensure adequate sleep and do not overuse your brain. ④ Do not abuse drugs, smoke or drink excessively. ⑤ Perform food chewing exercises. When using the chewing muscles, the stimulation will be transmitted to the brainstem, cerebellum and cerebral cortex, thereby improving brain activity. Full chewing also helps to secrete cholecystokinin, which can enter the brain with blood circulation and improve memory and learning ability. ⑥ Supplement B vitamins. Vitamins and minerals are very important for the normal functioning of the human brain. Pay attention to the intake of B vitamins in your daily diet. Premenopausal women take an appropriate amount of iron and zinc to help enhance memory.