Can Depression Cause Memory Loss?

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By Dr. David Woo - May 8, 2023

Published on May 8, 2023. Updated on October 14, 2024.

Yes, absolutely. Depression and memory loss often go hand in hand. At Madison Avenue TMS & Psychiatry, we have helped many depression patients who report difficulty with memory (forgetfulness) and concentration. While the idea of experiencing depression memory loss can be daunting, there are effective treatments available, including medication options as well as innovative therapies such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Let’s explore what’s behind the relationship between depression and memory loss and what we can do to restore our memory and mental health.

Can Depression Affect Memory?

Depressed individuals often struggle to recall positive events, while negative events are remembered more strongly. This impacts their overall recollection, resulting in the so-called “depression memory loss” (1).

For someone with depression, the ability to multitask, remember appointments, and make payments on time can seem overwhelming and, at times, impossible. Depression affects many cognitive functions (thinking skills) that contribute to memory, including attention, information processing, and executive functions (like memory retrieval). These phenomena are all clinically important to our formation of long- and short-term memories, and if any of them are irregular, we can experience forgetfulness, “brain fog,” and other mental disruptions.

Why Does Depression Cause Memory Loss?

The memory loss associated with depression can have several causes, which can include:

Irregular brain activity connected to depression also impacts the parts of the brain involved in forming memories.
Lack of sleep (a common depression symptom)
Side effects of antidepressant medications

Any of these factors, alone or in combination, can make it harder for a depressed person to form or recall short-term memories.

Depression Causes Physical Changes To The Brain That May Contribute To Memory Loss

Does depression cause memory loss? There are a few reasons to think that depression itself is directly connected to forgetfulness due to the way depression works in the brain.

Researchers believe that depression causes changes in the brain that affect memory. For example, when someone experiences a depressive episode, the body goes into a stress response and releases a hormone called cortisol. Too much cortisol in the brain inhibits the growth of new brain cells in a part of the brain called the hippocampus, causing it to shrink.

The hippocampus is very important for memory formation. It helps the brain form, organize, and store memories. This suggests that the stress response activated by depressive episodes may affect memory (2).

The cognitive symptoms that can accompany depression sometimes resemble the symptoms of dementia. The good news is that when this “pseudodementia,” or dementia of depression, occurs, patients usually find relief from their cognitive symptoms by treating depression.

Depression Affects Sleep Quality, Which Affects Memory

Most people who struggle with depression complain of fatigue and changes in sleep habits. These sleep disruptions can affect cognitive function (3).

Depression is associated with an imbalance in certain neurotransmitters that regulate mood and also regulate sleep. This imbalance of neurotransmitters may be why individuals who struggle with depression experience insomnia (trouble sleeping) or hypersomnia (sleeping too much).

Studies consistently show that getting too little or too much sleep affects cognitive function, specifically visual memory and response time (4). Researchers found that the optimal amount of sleep for the brain to perform at its best was 7 to 9 hours and that sleeping less than 7 hours or more than 9 hours a night resulted in impaired cognitive function (5, 6).

Is memory loss a symptom of depression - madison avenue

Depression Medications And Memory Loss

Antidepressants Can Contribute To Short-Term Memory Loss

Antidepressants can provide relief for depression symptoms. However, certain antidepressants, like SSRIs and tricyclics, may cause difficulty concentrating or even short-term memory loss (7). One study observed the effects of SSRI antidepressants in adult patients diagnosed with either depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) for 8 weeks. Study participants had no prior complaints of memory loss. To analyze cognitive function, patients completed a mini-mental state examination (MMSE) before starting medication treatment and then again at weeks 3, 5, and 8 of treatment.

The MMSE, also called the Folstein test, is a widely used cognitive assessment tool that tests various cognitive functions, including attention, memory, orientation, and visual-spatial skills (8). Researchers found that patients scored lower on their MMSE with each consecutive check-in (i.e. their cognitive function declined and they experienced memory loss) throughout their 8-week treatment course with an SSRI antidepressant (9).

Some studies may suggest a link between the use of antidepressants and the risk of developing dementia. An analysis of five observational studies published between 2012 and 2017 suggests that patients over the age of 45 who take certain antidepressants for at least one month may be at an increased risk of developing dementia when compared with people who do not take antidepressants. In this study, patients who took tricyclic antidepressants had a higher risk of developing depression compared to patients who took SSRIs (10).

Another study reveals that only some antidepressants may be associated with a very minimal increased risk of dementia. An analysis of antidepressant use among adults 65 years and older shows that medications with anticholinergic activity, drugs that block the neurotransmitter called acetylcholine, are more likely to cause dementia. Certain antidepressants, like paroxetine and tricyclic antidepressants, are considered to be anticholinergic (11).

Recent reviews of the current research on antidepressants and dementia note that there is an association between the use of anticolinergic antidepressants and dementia symptoms among older adults (12). However, the results of these studies suggest that it is not antidepressants themselves but anticholinergic drugs that increase the risk of dementia. It does not mean that antidepressants are unsafe. Antidepressants have helped and continue to help thousands of patients effectively find relief from depression.

I Think My Antidepressants Are Causing Memory Loss. Should I Stop Taking Them?

If you’ve been prescribed antidepressants, you should continue to take them. However, if you’re currently taking an antidepressant and are experiencing short-term memory loss, or if you’re concerned about the possible long-term effects of taking antidepressants, it’s best to talk to a psychiatrist before making any changes to your dosage.

Not everyone responds to medications the same way, and what works well for one patient can cause intolerable side effects in another. At Madison Avenue TMS & Psychiatry, we offer medication management services to help find the right prescription medication for you or to see if you qualify for a drug-free depression treatment like TMS. Our medication management consultations are conveniently accessible via telehealth video chats, enabling you to manage your treatment plan when it suits your schedule, even from the comfort of your home.

TMS Therapy For Memory Loss

One promising treatment being investigated for combatting memory loss and enhancing cognitive function is TMS. TMS is a noninvasive technique that uses a helmet-like device to send tiny, barely noticeable magnetic pulses to targeted brain areas. These subtle pulses activate the brain’s neurotransmitters in places where they may be irregular or underactive, thus restoring healthy brain function.

TMS is an FDA-approved treatment for depression and OCD, with an impressive success rate. However, it is also being explored for treating memory loss in conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s, with promising results (13). This makes TMS a particularly attractive option for individuals with depression who have failed to find relief through traditional medications.

How Depression And Anxiety Affect Memory Loss In Adults

A recent study reveals that adults who experience depression and anxiety in their twenties, thirties, and forties are at risk of memory and cognitive impairment in their fifties. The study analyzed information from the National Child Development Study, which began in 1958. This study followed participants starting from childbirth, through childhood, and into late adulthood to observe physical, social, and educational development (14).

Researchers observed that one episode of depression and/or anxiety did not have a significant effect on memory function later in life. However, they found a steady decrease in memory function in older adults when they had experienced two to three, or even more, episodes of depression and/or anxiety in early adulthood (15).

Does Depression Cause Permanent Brain Damage?

Isolated incidents of depression usually do not have a profound effect on the brain later on, especially if the episodes don’t last for years at a time. However, research has shown that repeated episodes of depression can predispose patients to develop dementia in adults older than 65.

As for medications, most antidepressants have not been conclusively shown to affect memory negatively. However, certain antidepressants that are anticholinergic—such as the older tricyclic antidepressants as well as other non-psychiatric medications with anticholinergic side effects—can put the patient at risk for short-term or even long-term memory problems if they’re being taken for years at a time or taken by an elderly patient.

Help For Depression Memory Loss In New York City

If you’re experiencing symptoms of depression, including forgetfulness, or if you’ve been diagnosed with depression and notice signs of memory loss, talk to your doctor. They may recommend a treatment option not associated with memory loss, like TMS.

If you’re struggling with managing the symptoms of depression and live in the NYC area, then Madison Avenue TMS & Psychiatry can help you. We offer a range of effective therapies, including medication management services and TMS, to treat depressive symptoms, including memory loss and forgetfulness. Contact us online or call (212) 731 2033 for more information or to schedule an appointment. Don’t let depression rob you of precious memories—take action today to preserve your mental health.

More Resources On Depression Symptoms:

Sources:

Bulteau, S., Malo, R., Holland, Z., Laurin, A., & Sauvaget, A. (2023). The update of self-identity: Importance of assessing autobiographical memory in major depressive disorder. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Cognitive Science. 2023;14(3), e1644. Link. Accessed September 20, 2024.
Wu, A., Zhang, J. Neuroinflammation, memory, and depression: new approaches to hippocampal neurogenesis. J Neuroinflammation. 2023;20, 283. Link. Accessed September 20, 2024.
Pearson, O., Uglik-Marucha, N., Miskowiak, K. W., Cairney, S. A., Rosenzweig, I., Young, A. H., & Stokes, P. R. The relationship between sleep disturbance and cognitive impairment in mood disorders: A systematic review. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2023;327, 207-216. Link. Accessed September 20, 2024.
Chen, P., Ban, W., Wang, W., You, Y., & Yang, Z. The Devastating Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Memory: Lessons from Rodent Models. Clocks & Sleep. 2023;5(2), 276-294. Link. Accessed September 20, 2024.
Henry A, Katsoulis M, Masi S, Fatemifar G, Denaxas S, Acosta D, Garfield V, Dale CE. The relationship between sleep duration, cognition, and dementia: a Mendelian randomization study. Int J Epidemiol. 2019;48(3):849-860. Link. Accessed September 20, 2024.
Sleeping for too little or too long linked to poorer memory. Neurosciencenews.com. Published June 05, 2019. Link. Accessed September 20, 2024.
Eizadi-Mood N, Akouchekian S, Yaraghi A, Hakamian M, Soltani R, Sabzghabaee AM. Memory Impairment Following Acute Tricyclic Antidepressants Overdose. Depress Res Treat. 2015(2015):835786. Link. Accessed September 20, 2024.
Minnesota Department of Human Services. Mini-Mental Status Examination. Publication Date Unkown. Link. Accessed September 20, 2024..
Sayyah M, Eslami K, AlaiShehni S, Kouti L. Cognitive Function Before and During Treatment with Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors in Patients with Depression or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Psychiatry J. 2016;2016:5480391. Link. Accessed September 20, 2024.
Wang YC, Tai PA, Poly TN, et al. Increased Risk of Dementia in Patients with Antidepressants: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies. Behav Neurol. 2018;2018:5315098. Published 2018 Jul 10. Link. Accessed January 11, 2021.8.
Heath L, Gray SL, Boudreau DM, et al. Cumulative Antidepressant Use and Risk of Dementia in a Prospective Cohort Study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2018 Oct;66(10):19481955. Link. Accessed January 15, 2021.
Wang, G. H., Li, P., Wang, Y., Guo, J., & Wilson, D. L. (2022). Association between Antidepressants and Dementia Risk in Older Adults with Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2022;12(19), 6342. Link. Accessed September 20, 2024.
Phipps, C. J., Murman, D. L., & Warren, D. E. Stimulating Memory: Reviewing Interventions Using Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Enhance or Restore Memory Abilities. Brain Sciences. 2021:11(10), 1283. Link. Accessed September 20, 2024.
1958 National Child Development Study. Centre for Longitudinal Studies. Link. Accessed September 20, 2024.
University of Sussex. Depression in 20s linked to memory loss in 50s. ScienceDaily. Published March 20, 2019. Link. Accessed September 20, 2024.

Dr. David Woo

Dr. David Woo is the owner and head clinical psychiatrist at Madison Avenue TMS and Therapy in New York City. Dr. Woo has been seeing patients in private practice since 2002, always with the goals of combining evidence-based medicine with psychodynamic psychotherapy and collaborating with other mental health professionals to ensure the best possible outcomes for his patients. He has been certified to administer TMS at his practice since 2017. His greatest clinical interests include helping patients suffering from depression, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder.

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