What Causes Short-Term Memory Loss in Young Adults?

Family Medicine, Primary Care Roots Community Health Center, Hippo Education, Kameda Medical Center

Supervised by Kenji Taylor, MD

Short-term memory loss in young adults can happen because of several reasons like injuries to the brain, stress, sleep loss, congenital heart issues, or learning differences such as ADHD. These causes can disrupt how the brain processes and remembers information.

Explanation

Our memory works best when the brain is healthy. Sometimes, a bump to the head or a brain injury can cause short-term memory problems by hurting the brain's delicate cells. Stress and not getting enough sleep can also make it hard for the brain to focus and remember things. Young adults with heart problems from birth may not get enough oxygen to the brain, which can affect memory. Additionally, some people with ADHD have a harder time keeping things in their mind because their brain works differently, making it tough to remember details or follow instructions. In each of these situations, the brain is having trouble storing and using new information right away. It is important for anyone experiencing memory problems to talk with a health professional so they can learn more about what might be causing it and how to help the brain work better.

(References)

Updated 2024 Jun 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545136/
Pike NA, Woo MA, Poulsen MK, Evangelista W, Faire D, Halnon NJ, Lewis AB, Kumar R. Predictors of Memory Deficits in Adolescents and Young Adults with Congenital Heart Disease Compared to Healthy Controls. Front Pediatr. 2016 Oct 31;4:117. doi: 10.3389/fped.2016.00117. PMID: 27843890; PMCID: PMC5086579.
Kofler MJ, Singh LJ, Soto EF, Chan ESM, Miller CE, Harmon SL, Spiegel JA. Working memory and short-term memory deficits in ADHD: A bifactor modeling approach. Neuropsychology. 2020 Sep;34(6):686-698. doi: 10.1037/neu0000641. Epub 2020 May 21. PMID: 32437194; PMCID: PMC7483636.

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