Improving Memory: Lifestyle Changes, Alcohol and Smoking and Memory

The detrimental health effects that can occur from drinking and smoking, caused by alcohol and tobacco, are now well known. But beyond producing ailments such as cirrhosis of the liver and lung cancer, overindulgence in these common substances can permanently damage your ability to remember everyday life.

Too much alcohol can ruin memory.
Go easy on the wine to prevent
memory loss.

Alcohol
You may feel like the life of the party after a few drinks, but you may be surprised to learn that having a few beers or glasses of wine several times a week can begin to interfere with your ability to remember.

A rare binge will probably not cause permanent memory problems, but habitually abusing alcohol can cause real damage. In fact, short-term memory loss is one of the hallmarks of alcoholism. Alcohol destroys brain tissue and interferes with the process of absorbing information so that it never enters long-term memory. Prolonged alcohol abuse causes permanent damage to the memory system. Short-term memory loss is often the first indicator of alcohol-related neurological damage. This type of memory loss means a person has difficulty remembering new information, so the learning process takes longer. It also reduces a person's higher-level thinking (the ability to think in abstract terms). Excessive drinking changes the underlying brain chemistry that controls ability and skills. People who habitually drink too much may also experience blackouts -- periods of amnesia that occur when the amount of alcohol consumed prevents the formation of memories in the brain. If untreated, chronic alcoholics may develop a confused state of thinking that can lead to severe amnesia and disorientation.

So if a better memory is your goal, you would do well to examine your alcohol consumption patterns. And if you regularly have more than one (if you're a woman) or two (if you're a man) drinks a day or occasionally consume several drinks in a sitting, you may want to cut back to protect your thinking cap. If you experience difficulty moderating your drinking on your own, look into local programs for problem drinkers (such as Alcoholics Anonymous) or contact a mental health professional who specializes in treating substance abuse problems.

Smoking
While smoking a cigarette may make you feel momentarily energized, smoking can actually lower the amount of oxygen that reaches your brain, thereby affecting your memory. In fact, studies have found that smokers score lower on memory tests than nonsmokers, and smokers who average more than a pack a day appear to have an especially hard time recalling names and faces. Some research suggests that smoking can slow your memory performance about as much as having a couple of drinks. Smoking a pack a day exposes you to 1,000 micrograms of toluene (among other things), which is highly toxic and can cause confusion and memory loss.

Inhalants
Abuse of inhalants such as paint thinner, spray paint, mimeograph fluid, or hair spray, can lead to memory problems. Indeed, "huffing," as it's known, is one of the most common forms of drug abuse among children and teenagers today. Because of the rapid absorption of the inhalants, "huffers" experience a quick high, but meanwhile the chemicals (again, including toluene) damage the brain by killing brain cells and dissolving the protective sheath around nerves. Inhalants can cause permanent brain damage, memory problems, and learning disabilities.

On the next page, learn about dietary supplements and how they can affect memory.

To learn more about the various aspects of memory, see:

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.