Hypothyroidism and Memory Loss – “Now Where Did I Put Those Keys?”
Hypothyroidism and memory loss is no picnic. Your kids might tease you because you can never remember the names of their friends, or where you last placed your purse. Your significant other is frustrated because you can’t ever find your keys. You know there’s something you should remember, but unless you write it down and remember where you put your list, you end up forgetting half of what you went to the store to buy, or missed that salon appointment.
As if the regular symptoms of hypothyroidism aren’t enough to deal with, recent research has shown thyroxine (known as T4), the hormone produced by the thyroid gland, has a great deal to do with memory loss. You’re not losing your mind, contrary to what your family thinks.
Wait, what was this article about? Oh, yeah…
The problem with hypothyroid symptoms is they creep – meaning, you might not notice them at all because unless the thyroid suddenly stops working, the symptoms develop over time as the thyroid declines. One by one they appear, stealthy and sneaky.
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Weight gain
• Puffy face
• Dry skin
• Brittle hair and nails
• Sluggishness
• Increased sensitivity to cold
• Constipation
• Heavy menstrual periods
• Muscle aches and pains
• Memory loss
To make matters even worse, the majority of sufferers from hypothyroidism are women over the age of fifty. This might make hypothyroidism that much more difficult to diagnose, as this is the prime age of menopause. So, if you are a woman over the age of fifty and are suffering from a number of these symptoms, the trick is to get the correct diagnosis. If you can remember what your problems are by the time you get to the doctor’s office.
Sometimes it really sucks to be a female.
The problem is, the function of the thyroid is to regulate the metabolic processes of the body. This is a huge job for such a little gland. The thyroid can fail due to damage from surgery or xrays, certain medications such as lithium, interferon for hepatitis, or damage from an auto-immune disease. Over time, the thyroid can simply decline in function due to age, and in 5 of every 100 women, childbirth can have a detrimental effect on the thyroid, although the majority of these cases clear up on their own.
Recent studies confirm the link between hypothyroidism and memory loss, which might make you feel a bit better when scrambling to find those darned keys yet again. At least you have an actual cause of memory loss with which you can defend yourself and blame for always losing at Trivial Pursuit on game night with the family. The good news is, too, you can improve your memory with hormone replacement therapy and brain exercises.
Before you start worrying about brain exercises, we’re not talking about anything that will make you sweat. Instead, here are some things you can do to improve your memory while waiting for thyroid treatment to kick in:
1. Get enough exercise. Yes, there could be sweating involved with the exercise, but exercise actually gets more oxygen to the brain and enhances the effects of brain chemicals.
2. Get enough sleep. Sleep is necessary for normal brain function, which explains why sleep-deprived parents are usually little better than zombies. The key memory-enhancing activity occurs in deep sleep, so it’s important to get enough.
3. Play games and have fun. True! Many studies have shown friends, fun and laughter actually improve cognitive functions of the brain.
4. Put a lid on the stress. Stress can have a negative impact on every part of the body. Try to keep the stress to a minimum.
Thankfully, now you have a reason to quote to your family why you seem so absent-minded. You can tell them that your memory loss is due to your hypothyroidism and you have a few suggestions on how to improve the situation. With treatment and some fun activities, you’ll be able to remember where you put the keys and be back to kicking booty in Trivial Pursuit in no time.
