Memory loss due to depression, what does it consist of?

Memory loss due to depression is evidence. The depressed brain disconnects us from reality to move away like a ship that is adrift. It drags us into its neurochemical storm, it locks us in a cave where the outside world becomes tremulous and indefinite, where it is difficult to maintain concentration, remember, react, think, attend…

When we talk about depression, we almost instantly visualize a person lying on the couch or in their bed with the blinds drawn. We relate this psychological disorder with stillness, dejection and helplessness. However, Depression in many cases is “portable”, there are thousands of people who face their daily responsibilities with this invisible wound every day. interfering in almost any aspect, in any activity.

Because depression goes beyond a specific emotional state. This condition is internal disorder, it is physical exhaustion, It is reluctance, apathy, it is hopelessness settling like a Trojan in the mind and it is, above all, deterioration in cognitive functioning.. The latter is undoubtedly a relevant aspect that is not talked about very often. And yet, it is essential to take it into account to constitute a more comprehensive, adjusted and sensitive therapeutic approach.

Memory loss due to depression, what happens to me?

Difficulty understanding instructions and even more difficult to offer them. Problems understanding what we hear or read. Having someone’s name on the tip of your tongue and not remembering it. Going blank while driving without remembering where we were going. Perceiving that people get angry with us because we do not listen to them while they speak. Experiencing more and more misunderstandings with those around us and that is because we cannot focus our attention, remember what they tell us, make simple deductions, etc..

As we see, memory loss due to depression goes beyond simple forgetfulness. It is living wrapped in a mental fog, where everything seems to be too far away or too diffuse to be able to focus our attention and understand what is happening, where we are, what is being asked of us. All of this generates discomfort, social misunderstanding and what is worse, the feeling of dejection worsens.

Why does all this happen? What are all these exhausting processes due to?

“Accelerated” neurons

Stress is, on average, another factor that promotes the risk of depression. The feeling of threat, fear, pressure, the feeling of alert, anxiety… All of these are dimensions that promote the release of glucocorticoids, the most common being cortisol.

A brain governed by the impact of cortisol works differently. The neurons are “accelerated” and promote well-known processes such as rumination, worry, obsessive thoughts… Given this hyperactivity, what happens is something very graphic. To reduce this overactivation and neuronal exhaustion and even death, these cells proceed to “disconnect.”

Information stops being transmitted as quickly, things are forgotten, memory weakens and the brain suddenly slows down to enter “pause” mode.

The hippocampus shrinks in size

Memory loss due to depression also has its origin in a very specific brain structure: the hippocampus. This region, among other functions, is responsible for storing memory. As striking as it may seem to us, it is this area that is most affected by the effect of cortisol. It’s almost like that target where all the toxicity of glucocorticoids goes. If depression becomes chronic or we suffer recurrent episodes, its size will become increasingly smaller.

Nevertheless, It should be noted that the hippocampus is one of those structures characterized by great plasticity. With therapy, memory exercises and appropriate cognitive strategies it can return to its original size to improve our attention, memory, etc.

dopaminergic circuits

A reality that characterizes people with depression is anhedonia. With this psychological disorder we lose the ability to enjoy the simplest things, to experience interest, pleasure, motivation, energy to start something new, to leave the house, undertake, connect…

The dopaminergic circuits are responsible for “rewarding” us for these types of things. For those activities that the brain considers positive. However, A depressed brain is an organ where dopamine no longer functions effectively. And with that, everything changes and everything is altered. We lose motivation and what is more important, a deficit in this neurotransmitter also implies the appearance of alterations in the serotonergic, glutamatergic, opioid and endocannabinoid systems…

If all of these neurochemical systems and processes are not working as they should, We lose curiosity, attention span, agility to learn, to store new data and retrieve it, to make decisions effectively.…

What can we do?

Memory loss due to depression is a fact. However, each person will experience it in a particular way. It is known, for example, In mild to moderate depression, this cognitive deficit can be recovered through cognitive therapies, exercises, and self-help groups.etc.

However, In the most serious cases, a multidisciplinary strategy is necessary, where the pharmacological approach is combined with psychological therapies, with therapies focused on memory work and even with dietary supplements based on magnesium and group B vitamins. Likewise, we cannot neglect how important it is to have the support of our environment. Understanding, closeness and sensitivity towards that person with depression is essential.

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