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Article: Memory Loss
- Article from:
- Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine
- Author:
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Memory loss
Definition
Memory loss can be partial or total. Most memory loss occurs as part of the normal
aging
process. However, memory loss may also occur as a result of severe emotional trauma or due to brain damage following disease or physical trauma. Memory loss can be described as amnesia, forgetfulness, or impaired memory.
Description
Memory is often classified as immediate (retention of information for a few seconds); short-term (retention of information for several seconds or minutes); and longterm (retention of information for days, weeks, or years). In short-term memory loss, patients can remember their childhood and past events but fail to remember events that happened in ...