MS & memory loss

What causes memory loss in MS?

Memory loss in people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is often caused by damage to nerve pathways in the brain. MS leads to the development of lesions in various areas of the brain, which disrupt the normal transmission of nerve impulses. These lesions interfere with the brain’s ability to process, store, and retrieve information, resulting in difficulties with memory.

If you’re experiencing other cognitive symptoms such as trouble concentrating, following instructions, or problem-solving, these may also be linked to MS-related changes in the brain. Learn more about how to identify and manage these issues.

Types of memory loss problems with MS include:

People with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) may experience several types of memory loss, depending on which areas of the brain are affected by MS lesions. Common memory-related issues in MS include:

• Short-term memory problems – Difficulty remembering recent conversations, appointments, or where you placed everyday items.
• Working memory challenges – Trouble holding and using information briefly, such as following multi-step instructions or doing mental calculations.
• Verbal memory difficulties – Forgetting words mid-sentence, names, or things you’ve recently read or heard.
• Visual memory issues – Struggling to recall locations, faces, or visual information.

These types of memory problems can vary in severity and may come and go depending on fatigue, stress, or MS relapses. While MS doesn’t typically cause severe memory loss like dementia, these subtle cognitive changes can affect daily life. MS most commonly affects short term memory, including remembering recent events and remembering to do things. 

It is important to remember that MS does not usually affect your long-term memory or intelligence.

Managing memory loss

Managing cognitive symptoms such as memory loss often involves finding coping strategies that work for you. Here are some tips for living with memory loss:

• Assign a specific spot for items you lose often, such as keys or phone. 
• Use checklists, journals and organizers to help remember what you need to do.
• Try to keep to a set schedule.
• Repeat and write down important information. 

It may be important to make some lifestyle changes as part of a coping strategy. For example it could help to keep life as simple as possible. This might mean a change in job or adaptations to your current role, such as working from home if possible. It can help to have a close circle of friends and family around you to assist with daily tasks.

It is also really important to minimise stress and anxiety due to its impact on MS. Ways you could do this includes: 

• Guided or unguided meditation
• Yoga
• Breathing exercises
• Exercise

It can also be really helpful to boost your cognitive reserve, the mind’s resistance to damage of the brain. This is the brain’s ability to use its nerve pathways more efficiently or to find alternative pathways if the usual ones are damaged. 

Everyone’s cognitive reserve is different, due to many things such as experience and education. The stronger and more resilient your brain is the more you will be able to cope with MS damage. Research suggests that our set of lifetime experiences help build cognitive reserve and may account for differences in cognitive reserve between us. 

Keep your brain healthy and active as much as you can. It is important to keep up any hobbies you may have, find brain games, puzzles or crosswords that you enjoy and continue to read and write. Physical activity has also been shown to help reduce brain and cognitive decline. 

Unfortunately, there are currently no drugs available to improve or treat cognitive problems and MS. There has been a small study looking into the effects of gingko biloba supplements in people with MS who showed some improvements in concentration and memory, but it didn’t provide enough evidence to show it has definite effect and further research is needed. 

Use the Overcoming MS program

As mentioned above it is so important to maintain low stress and anxiety levels. Step four of the Overcoming MS Program focuses on the importance of meditation due to its clinically proven effectiveness in reducing stress. Find more information here: 

• Meditation for MS
• The Mind-Body connection
• Guided meditations

MS can potentially affect your memory in direct and indirect ways. If you’ve noticed changes in your memory, it is best to speak with your MS team. They can help you identify the causes of your memory loss and develop strategies to manage it.