A memory deficit can occur in association with a variety of neurological, autoimmune, psychiatric and mood disorders. In some cases, the memory issue can be the most important complaint, but in others, it is secondary to more pressing problems.
With regard to brain localisation, difficulties with everyday memory are most likely to occur if there is an injury or abnormality in the front/midline thalamus or in the most interior part of the temporal lobe (including the hippocampus). Such injuries/abnormalities are often the result of stroke, encephalitis, brain tumour or an epileptic focus.
Abnormalities in other brain regions can also be associated with memory difficulties, but other types of deficits usually take priority when it comes to rehabilitation. For example, a head injury is most likely to result in frontal lobe or brain stem damage and hence, deficits in attention, impulse control, and planning/decision-making as well as mood and sleep disorders, which can outweigh forgetfulness. A stroke, which most often involves the middle cerebral artery, tends to cause paralysis and/or speech deficits. These types of deficits are usually the focus of early intervention. In people with multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy (CP), which are both primarily associated with movement problems, the preservation/development of motor skills and the management of fatigue and pain are the issues that receive the most attention. It is often only once the initial, more pressing difficulties are addressed in all these conditions that memory issues become more apparent.
Some psychiatric disorders (such as schizophrenia) and depression are also associated with poor memory. There is a good deal of research into the ways in which addressing cognitive impairments might result in improvements in a person’s mental health and everyday coping skills.
Whether memory problems are the most pressing or a secondary issue, MEMORehab can be used for any of these types of patients, if they meet the following eligibility criteria:
Able to pay attention for one-hour sessions
Able to communicate in English
Able to interact with a keyboard and at least some experience with a computer
Participants who engage in MEMORehab are taught evidence-based strategies to enhance encoding and retrieval as well as lifestyle factors that maximise brain function. The program also has information to help patients understand their conditions and how memory works. In combination, the elements of MEMORehab can help clients with a variety of conditions.