Psoriatic Arthritis and Memory Loss
Many days, I feel like I’m not only losing my mind, but my memories as well. Here in the psoriatic arthritis (PsA) community, we talk a great deal about brain fog.
Inability to concentrate, forgetfulness, or confusion- all symptomatic of brain fog. But what about actual memory loss? Have you experienced memory loss because of psoriatic arthritis?
Brain fog, memory loss and psoriatic arthritis
It has taken me quite a while to really put all of the pieces together. First, I thought it was the simple busyness of life causing me to forget things. We all have a million and one things going on, it’s easy to forget a thing or two.
I’m beginning to notice that not only am I simply forgetting snippets of things on my to-do list, I’m completely forgetting entire conversations. Sometimes, reminders of the words spoken aren’t even sparking memories leaving me feeling lost, confused, and out of place. I’ve never claimed to be a scientist but I’ve tried to understand it anyway.
While I haven’t been able to find clear-cut evidence between psoriatic arthritis and memory loss specifically, inflammation in the body has been proven to lead to trouble concentrating and some memory loss.
Tips to combat brain fog and memory loss
However, there is reason to hope. Memory loss associated with inflammation has been found to be reversible once inflammation is under control. Our memories aren’t gone forever. Not only that, we can now use the lapses in memory as another way to monitor inflammation in our body.
There is still so much we need to learn about how psoriatic arthritis and inflammation impact our bodies. But we can still be proactive in our attempts to counter the effects of memory loss on our day to day life.
Journal
Simple measures like writing things down and journaling can improve memory. Post it notes and phone apps both make jotting down ideas and memories easy. Stay on top of current events and keep your brain active to counter the possibility of any long term effects.
Eating healthy
Eat healthy and avoid foods that cause inflammation. Sugary drinks, processed foods, and dairy can raise inflammation levels in the body. Thereby increasing not only brain fog, but memory loss as well.
Manage stress
Practice positive ways to manage stress like yoga or meditation. It is too easy to let stress get out of control. Be proactive and keep stress under control.
Keep a log
Keep a detailed and extensive log of symptoms. Sometimes it is easier to hold on to memories if they are associated with a feeling, be it good or bad. If you take the time to record symptoms associated with an event, then you are more likely to be able to accurately pull up that memory later.
Speak with your doctor right away
Feeling like you are suffering from memory loss can be very disconcerting. I hate that feeling like I can’t remember something at all. Not just bits and pieces, but everything, gone. If you have concerns about memory loss you may be experiencing, speak with your doctor about your symptoms as soon as possible. They may be able to help.
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