Contents
- Introduction
- What is memory?
- What causes memory problems?
- Memory difficulties in people with epilepsy
- How are people with memory problems affected?
- Neuropsychological memory assessment
- Memory enhancement strategies
- Specific memory problems
- Hints for helpers
This information was written by Epilepsy Action’s advice and information team with guidance and input from people living with epilepsy and medical experts.
Our thanks
Epilepsy Action would like to thank Professor Gus Baker of the University of Liverpool, Amy J Hothersall and Jenna E Mallows for their contribution to this information.
Disclosure
Professor Gus Baker has no conflict of interest.
Because this page is written by an epilepsy healthcare professional and not by Epilepsy Action, it falls outside the requirements of the Information Standard. This is why the Information Standard logo is not shown on this page.
See a presentation about memory and epilepsy by Gus Baker
Introduction
A self help guide for improving memory functioning in people with epilepsy.
It is widely recognised that people with epilepsy commonly complain about memory problems. This information, written by Professor Gus Baker and colleagues at the University of Liverpool, is a clear self-help guide to memory problems in people with epilepsy. This information is also useful for carers. It explains the difficulties that can be faced and provides simple strategies that may help the individual to overcome them.
What is memory?
Memory is the ability to recall past experience and knowledge. It is divided into short-term memory and long-term memory. Short-term memory deals with information that is to be remembered over a period of a few minutes, and long-term memory deals with anything that is to be remembered for longer than this.
Recording the memory in the first place is called encoding. The information is then passed from short-term to long-term memory for storage. Long-term memory is divided into three types.
- Procedural memory
Activities which are carried out almost without thinking, for example, riding a bike. - Semantic memory
Knowledge that has been acquired but we are not sure when, for example, capital cities. - Episodic memory
Personal memories of everyday life.
Memory can also be divided into verbal and visual. Verbal memory is the ability to remember information which is perceived aurally, for example, words and sound. Visual memory is the ability to remember information that is provided visually, for example in terms of pictures and faces.
When we want to remember something, the information we need is brought back from long-term memory to short term memory. This is called retrieval.
If we have forgotten something it could be due to problems with:
- recording the memory in the first place (encoding)
- the storing of the memory (storage)
- recovering the memory from long term memory (retrieval).
What causes memory problems?
Everybody will experience some minor lapses in memory. These can occur when we are:
- under stress
- trying to concentrate on a number of things at once
- feeling unwell
- feeling tired.
Also, as we get older, lapses in memory can become more common. This variation is perfectly normal and nothing to be concerned about.
However, memory problems can be much more pronounced and long-term. They can be caused by a number of things, for example:
- a dementia type illness such as Alzheimer’s disease
- an infection of the brain, for example encephalitis
- a shortage of oxygen to the brain, as in cerebral palsy
- head injury
- certain types of stroke
- a brain tumour or brain haemorrhage
- epilepsy, on its own or with one of the above.
It is worthwhile noting that the cause of some of our memory problems may be due to another problem, which is resulting in impairment in memory. Here are some examples.
- An attention problem. If we do not pay attention to the information we are presented with then this information is not recorded by our memory.
- A language problem. Sometimes in conversation we find it hard to find the word that we are looking for. This can be misinterpreted as forgetting words.
- Anxiety and depression. People with an altered emotional state often experience memory difficulties. Those who experience anxiety can find their mind is too occupied with worrying thoughts to concentrate on things around them. Those who are low in mood can also feel lethargic and low in motivation, therefore lacking the attention needed to record a memory.
- Sleep disturbances. If we are not getting enough sleep then we can experience difficulty concentrating, which again disrupts our attention to information.
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Updated February 2011To be reviewed February 2013
Comments: read the 18 comments or add yours
Comments
I had my first fit in may this year at work, i have since had 2 more, one this morning i do lose memory of the day it happens, but the first one i dont remember may,april or march
No one seems to know the reason why its started as i am 42 and no family history i feel so lost at the moment. I had just built up the confidence to go out onmy own and now another fit has wrecked it
My brother had is first fit when he was 15, and it was horrific to withness. It was then we found it he has epilepsy. He is 18 now and starting college. I have been so worried lately because his memory seems to be getting a lot worse. I think his medication is making it a lot worse. He can't complete an entire sentence sometimes.. its like he's looking for words and just can't find them. And sometimes he will be standing infront of you and completly zones out.
I really appreciate all the information shared, it's good to know that there are other people experincing this. I was just wondering if there is anything I can do to help. He just isin't taking this seriously. He has fallen down stairs because he forgets to look down, he's crossed the street and injured his ankle because a person drover over it! I am not there all the time because I am in university myself. Is there specific ways for him to be able to work on his memory?
Also does anyone know why his hands and limbs shake? Does that happen to anyone?
Thank you so much for your time.
Hi
I had memory problems i've had Epilepsy since i was a child but confirmed when i was a teenager but i have mostly been controlled since i was 1992 but my memory this last few years has gotten worse, it can be frustrating to talk to friends and you lose the conversation half way though it and cant rememmber nothing of it of what i said and need reminding....thats all fine when its your friends and they understand but to strangers its hard when they look at you like your some sort of fool and you got to explain the situation to them... that to me is hard to take!!!!
i'd went to see a Neurologist a few years ago who confirmed to me it was caused by having long term Epilepsy which did make me feel relieved in some aspect however its something i got to deal with as there no "cure" for it. My memory is quite poor compared to what i used to be and i do sometimes struggle to remmember and i got to put appointments on a board otherwise i forget about them. I am in the process of changing from Epanutin to Lamotrigine which i dont think is working too good however i am controlled with Epanutin but i get bad side effects like a constant dry mouth and bleeding gums at night when brushing my teeth.
I hope anyone can relate to this and it is comforting to know that i am not the only one with memory problems on this website.
I've had epilepsy for over 30 yrs after the first few years I knew it effect my memory but even my own family thought that when it took me a long time to do something I was just being lazy. They did not and still do not really understand that it takes me much longer to assimilate and recall because of the problems with memory that epilepsy causes. At school I went from being a grade A student to dropping out because I couldn't learn fast enough or remember all I had learned, again I was told I was Lazy and not trying. This led to rebellion and antisocial behaviour and a lot of very bad choices in life. In the last few years I have tried to turn my life around and am studying online to get a degree in Photography. The essays and theoretical papers take me months instead of weeks, but despite a lot of setbacks and frustration I am getting there. I now believe that I can do the same as anyone else, it may take me longer and I know that the effort I put into this is much greater than those without epilepsy or similar memory problems, however I believe this only adds to any achievement. I am enjoying learning, even if next week I have to relearn some of this weeks work. I will succeed and move on to the next challenge. Never let them get you down YOU CAN DO IT :-)
hey..
i was diagnosed with epilepsy when i was 17.. and they were very frequent. it got to the stage where i was having 4-5 a night. every couple of days. they then got my medication sorted and i went 15 months without one. i was doing realli well untill last wednesday when i had one in the bath :( . i have been takin my medication corectly but it just came on.. it just proved to me that it can happen at any time. !.. my memory is seriously affected by siezures to the point where i cant remeber people.it will al come floating back within a few hours.. but im also at university and my memory problems hav caused me to fail my 1st year so im having to re-do it.. iv tried to set reminders.. but i forget to do them !!!! thats the funny part.. im just hopeing there is some way i can remeber htings in a way i used to be able to :( ...
hi :)
ive hadd epilepsy for about a year now i think, im only 14 and i had 3 fits before i was diagnosed, well that we know of. i still have them now but i do have some memory problems including school but it's hard for my parents to understand. they expect so much of me but recently i failed an RE GCSE and i was grounded for it, but in the exam i had no idea what most of the words were. :S i know i'd been tought them because they were all in my book and i did revise, also i had a speaking test in french and forgot the whole thing after revising for about 2 months before. my parents make me feel so dissappointed in myself, and then there's the added stress of worrying about having fits at any time. bad time guys, bad times <3 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I had my first seizures just over 12 months ago. I can't remember at least the month after I had them, so I can't remember Christmas at all, I think the turkey must have been OK as my family have let me cook it again this year!! my memory loss is the worst part of it. I can't remember important memories from previous years like family holidays and special occasions, I can't remember places I have visited. My partner is very good and goes into great detail about an event or a place we have gone to, sometimes it jogs my memory sometimes it doesn't. My short term memory is appalling, I can't remember peoples names, what I was going to do next.I can be in a converstion and I either forget words or can't finish the conversation. Sometimes i feel i can't take information in, even it is something as simple as watching the telly or reading a book. Its worse at work if I am in a meeting or having a converstion with someone and can't take in what they are asking me to do. My work is suffering to, I am lucky as the girls I work with help me out but i'm not sure how much longer I can continue.
I have started writing lists for everything this helps a little. I have to put things like house keys in the same place if anybody moves them i'm done for!!
My teenage daughter really plays on it. She'll say she has told me something and I am stupid because I have forgotten. I have lost all he Christmas money. I had it last night and put it in a 'safe' place! Shes not very happy with me!!
When i found this on the epilepsy website i cried as can relate to everything peolpe have written. It may sound odd but it makes you feel better and more positive knowing you are not the only one feeling like this and that it is a normal part of epilepsy.
I am seeing my consultant next month to discuss my medication as I am not sure if that is making my memory worse, I am on Lamictal, after reading this though maybe it is something I have got to live with. That is going to be a tough one but I am very lucky to have supportive family, friends and work colleagues.
Hey honey I understand completely what your going through I had my first grand mal seizure the noting before my end of school exams and after 2 years of studying for them I couldn't even take the test. Plus I had learning difficulties all through school so it was a real struggle to get that far. I'm at Uni now n I had to drop out of last semester because of the epilepsy. My advice to u is no one really understand unless they have the disorder. It makes life a lot harder best thing you can do is find small articles on the seizures you have and how memory loss is linked with them print it out and hand it to your parents once they read it they will have a better understanding. And try not to stress about your exams and try not to cram all the information the night before this can affect you hugely and it could be causing the memory loss or it could be your having small seizures in your sleep talk to your neurologist about it next time you see them. N even have a chat to your teachers or give them the print out that you give ur parents itll make your life a whole lot easier. Hope this helps
Hmmm, the memory problems seem to be getting everyone down more than the fits. I concur! I've recently been diagnosed epileptic, after a spate of fits culminating in 15 hours of lost consciousness. The main problem is this last bout has wiped a lot of memory, and I also now have terrible problems with my short term memory. I couldn't even remember what presents anybody had given me for Christmas this year, which was embarrassing as I didn't thank the right people or forgot altogether. I cannot get to the end of newspaper articles, let alone a book. For someone who once achieved a First class degree and used to have a photographic memory, this has been utterly devastating.
I now have my own business, and yet I can't remember facts and figures about my products. Having had my driving licence revoked by the DVLA means I can't visit customers, most of whom are rural and remote as my business is supplying renewable energy systems. I'm trying my hardest, but it's very difficult. Non-sufferers simply don't understand - you don't have a plastercast or bandage to advertise your illness. People think you're rude or stupid for forgetting names or facts.
At the age of 34, with a wife and two little children to support, I'm not sure what my future or theirs is likely to hold. I'm particularly annoyed as I have always lived a healthy and clean life, never taken drugs or abused alcohol, not eaten junk food, kept very fit and active - and this is my reward.
I'm just glad I don't seem to be the only one out there who feels this way!
I'm also just like you. haven't had alchohol or cigarettes and have always topped school/college. now i've ended up with epilepsy and find that progress in life is stymied by this.
Hi,
I have a bit of a dilemma. I know I have a memory impairment (compared to estimates of pre-morbid functioning) from a neuropsych assessment and cope with this by being extremely organised. I have uncontrolled complex partial seizures with sclerosis of the hippocampus a key area of the brain related to memory. My problem is that I am doing a PhD as my level of functioning is not effected. I don't know whether to go ahead with surgery to reduce the risk of decline caused by seizures vs. The risks of post surgery impairment and taking time out of a PhD. What would be my rights with regards to taking 3 months out if necessary? I am used to and can cope with my seizures so I wouldn't consider surgery for their treatment alone, I only would if I was pretty sure by not having it my mental decline would increase due to damage caused my seizures. My neurosurgen can't really say either way. Is there anyway I can keep an eye on my functioning myself in between neuropsychological assesments and MRI scans at hospital? (I've only had one neuropsych assessment but a few MRIs and no physical deterioration).
Any advice appreciated, I know difficult questions to try to answer.
Hi there,
I work for a university (specifically with PhD students) and I know that we are very sympathetic to problems such as these. In our case (and I suspect this is the same for most universities) we allow up to one year of suspended registration for serious issues such as medical conditions etc.
You will need to speak to your supervisor as well as your Postgraduate Tutor (PhD programme lead) and find out what they have to say. Please bear in mind that this might be a bit more complicated if you have been awarded funding for your project as the funding may have an end date.
Whatever happens, the best thing you can possibly do is keep everybody on your project well informed so that they can help you through this.
I am 43 and have had epilepsy since I was 16 or thereabouts. It's been controlled very well by a large dose or tegratol twice a day. My memory though, is rubbish. Especially when it comes to people's names and faces And words in the middle of sentences. I used to see a consultant and be told me the brain compensates. Crap! double crap! There is no compensation going on here! Don't know if its the epilepy or the drugs ( suspect the drugs) but it's a real problem for me.
I was talking to a very good friend of mine yesterday regarding my worries about memory loss etc. I get more upset when I can't remember past memories like places I have visited, holiday memories and things I've done with family and friends over the years. She had a great idea about remembering places i have visited, just revisit them!!! Sounds like a good idea to me. I t would mean more holidays !!! Not sure if I would want to remember everything me and my friends have got up to in the past though!!
hi thank you all for your comments. my sweet 9 year old daughter is struggling to stay in main stream school because of her memory . she struggles to retain information and has to re visit topics . epilepsy isn't recognized as a condition such as autism , dyslexia etc so there isnt any extra funding available to help her in school . i now understand why she some times seems vacant and switched off, she appears tired all the time so maybe its the medication or abscent seizures .
Hi ive only recently been diagnosed with epilepsy after a grand mall seisure that happend in my sleep,didnt have any kind of warning what so ever.went to bed and woke up in hospital two days later,dont remember any of it,still dont and that was in january,my memory is what ime finding the hardest to cope with,going to do some thing then forget what it was,where ive put some thing,forget what ime talking about,some times the words just come out wrong,spell words back to front,used to be a really good speller,now ime asking the children for help.ive learnt to just make a joke of it,ime a right puddle duck,thats my hubbys nick name for me,who has been my rock these past weeks.i do get upset who wouldnt,problem is the doctors dont seem to know much about epilepsy,and go on what loved ones tell them.my son came home from work today and told me bluberrys are supposed to help memory,dont know but its worth a try.i just say to people i have epilepsy ime not ill,its a condition,i put post it stickers of things i need to do around the house,my family actually wore them stuck to their clothes when i first came home from hospital,i couldnt remember who my own family was.
Hello,
i think I am repeating the same as all of the other comments. I was diagnosed with a brain tumour when I was 28,(10 yrs ago) this has left me with the epilepsy, like many of you, its easy to cope with the cause in my case tumour, but the epilepsy really gets me down, i cant remember places we have been on holiday or films. very frustrating. But I can remember long term things like child hood memories, the registration of my first car and things like that but short term is a nightmare, Post it notes are a must in our house, the tip on writing on the hand is a very good one.
The epilepsy has runied my work life i left my office job and now a cleaner, brilliant as i get regular customers and I know I can do the job. not very glamarious, but brings in some money!
I have a driving license but I still get the odd aura but seems to go very quickly its more of a tingle than a fit or any more than that. I am on lamotrigene but a high doseage of 700mg. I am going to ask for this to be changed as this drug does not 'store' in the body it a bit like Vit C. So i have to take it on strict times and could never miss a dose in the day.
Also as a suggestion get your blood levels checked i found I have a slow absorbtion. which does not help with the medication and any fits etc. blood tests at regular times in one day like 10am 2pm and 5pm so they can monititor how quickly they stay in your system. Worth a try.
Take care remeber you are allowed to be angry and say why me. but life goes on and we cant do much can we.
hi,
I've had epilepsy since I was 18 mths old (now almost 50) and like a lot of other people, also have memory problems which are extremely frustrating. I'll be talking to someone quite happily and then suddenly stop in mid sentence when I can't remember or think of an appropriate word. That's really annoying. I get depressed too as I seem to be slow in 'catching on' to things or understanding sometimes.