Substance Abuse & Memory
Alcohol and Memory Loss
Gretchen Heuring | ElderThink | 02.02.11
There are both short term and longer term memory loss as a result of drinking too much alcohol. "Blacking out" or alcohol 
amnesia is caused because the alcohol actually prevents the formation of memories.
Aaron M. White, Ph.D., a researcher at Duke University says "Alcohol primarily interfere with the ability to form new long-term memories...as the amount of alcohol consumed increases, so does the magnitude of memory impairments."
Alcohol Dementia
Long-term drinking causes damage to the brain and memory loss. Some of this damage is permanent. This is a special problem for seniors who have been drinking for a long time. The person is usually unaware of memory loss.
Other Substance Abuse & Memory Loss
Substance abuse has become a growing problem among elders. According to the American Geriatrics Society (AGS), older adults are particularly vulnerable to the effects of substance abuse because of the changes that occur in minds and bodies as we age. Even so, physicans routinely prescribe addictive medications without consideration for the effects of older person.
Addictive drugs which can cause memory loss include Ambien, amphetamines, Benzodiazeine, Hydrocodone, Ritalin, Xanax and Percocet.
