NeuroStar® TMS Therapy
FDA-cleared, non-medication depression treatment
(855) 940-4867
Understanding the Connection between Depression and Memory Loss Symptoms
Jules Washington
Do you often lose track of where you left your keys or your phone? Do you find it difficult to recall what you've just read? Do you occasionally forget to take your medications?
If you have depression and memory loss symptoms, these issues might sound familiar to you. So, how can depression cause memory loss and what can we do about it? The answers lie within the connections and chemistry of our brains.
How Depression Leads to Forgetfulness
Persistent stress increases the brain's levels of the hormone cortisol, which, in turn, decreases the level of a chemical messenger called
BDNF . This impairs the growth of nerve cells within the hippocampus of the brain.
We rely on the hippocampus for almost everything related to memory, including memory encoding (getting the information into our memory systems), storage, and retrieval. That is why shrinkage in the hippocampus can result in forgetfulness.
If you have depression and memory loss symptoms, you may have noticed problems with both your short-term memory and long-term memory. Occasionally forgetting where you put your phone or whether you turned off a light may not be a big deal, but losing track of where you are in a major work project or finding that you have only vague memories of a vacation you took a few years ago can have a real impact on your ability to accomplish and enjoy important life activities.
The Effect of Depression on Attention
Depression also affects the frontal lobe—the part of the brain behind the forehead.
Studies of thousands of people with depression have found significantly reduced volume in this region.
The frontal lobe of the brain helps us to pay attention, so if you have depression, you may find that you're easily distracted. Perhaps you cannot concentrate fully during conversations with colleagues. You lose focus while reading a book, or you find it difficult to follow the plot of a TV show. Your friends, family, or co-workers might have even pointed these changes out to you.
The attention issues associated with frontal lobe shrinkage in depression can exacerbate the memory difficulties caused by a smaller hippocampus.
Treatment for Depression Helps Memory Loss
So depression can, in fact, cause memory loss. But fortunately, depression treatments can help reverse these brain changes.
Professor Ian Hickie, lead researcher of the world's biggest depression study on brain volume, has
explained that "the hippocampus is unique in its ability to rapidly generate new connections between cells, and what are lost here [in depression] are connections between cells rather than the cells themselves." That means depression treatments can potentially stimulate the growth of
new nerve cells and strengthen novel connections between them. Given that repeated episodes of depression increase the risk to the brain, Hickie and other researchers recommend seeking treatment early.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-drug, non-invasive treatment option that helps to form new connections between nerve cells in the
hippocampus and other brain regions affected by depression. It specifically
increases levels of BDNF throughout the brain, thereby stimulating nerve cell growth. Patients whose depression improves with TMS treatment show
improved performance on cognitive tests of verbal and visual memory, attention, and processing speed.
TMS is FDA-cleared and covered by most insurance when at least two antidepressant medications haven't been effective.
When undergoing treatment for depression, it can be reassuring to know you'll also be proactively addressing other brain changes that accompany the condition. Treatment that boosts your mood can also boost your memory, empowering you to live your best life and cherish the memories you make along the way.
Let's see if we might be a good fit
Take our short quiz to see if TMS therapy or nasal esketamine could be right for you
Share this post
We're Better Together
Subscribe for mental health, self-care, and TMS therapy and nasal esketamine updates for those affected by treatment-resistant depression or OCD.
Contact Us
By providing your email address, you are consenting to receive blog updates from Greenbrook TMS Inc. You may unsubscribe from these alerts at any time by following the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of email alerts. At Greenbrook TMS Inc. we take the privacy and security of your personal information seriously. To learn more about how we protect your personal information, please refer to our Privacy Policy.
You might also like
A recent study compared the effects of TMS therapy and Antidepressants. TMS therapy provided more relief from patients depressive symptoms compared to Antidepressants.
You may feel isolated and alone when you have clinical depression, and depression also affects your relationships with family and friends. While the primary focus of your treatment is to improve your mental health, it’s also essential to understand your loved ones may experience their own issues as they try to support you. An understanding of how depression affects relationships can help everyone maintain healthy connections and navigate problems. Here are some of the ways depression may affect the people in your support network.
We’ve all heard the common health-related misconceptions or myths-- chocolate causes acne, carrots will improve your night vision, and cracking your knuckles gives you arthritis. Subscribing to these particular myths is relatively harmless, but other health-related misconceptions can have far more serious consequences. This is the case for depression—the myths surrounding it can prevent people from getting the help they need. This is the case for depression—the myths surrounding it can prevent people from getting the help they need. Because untreated depression can have a serious physical and psychological impact, it’s imperative to have the right information in order to make the best decisions for yourself and for your health. Here are 5 common misconceptions about depression, and the facts behind them:
Starting any medical treatment for the first time can leave you with questions, especially if you’re looking forward to the benefits it may bring. It’s no different when you’re preparing for your nasal esketamine treatment. Your previous mental health treatments may have consisted solely of taking antidepressants at home or visiting a therapist’s office for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), so nasal esketamine is probably a new treatment experience for you. If you're wondering what it's like to start nasal esketamine and get ready for your first session, keep reading. Getting Started with the Nasal Esketamine Treatment As with any new treatment, you’ll first talk to your primary care provider or psychiatrist about whether nasal esketamine is a good fit for you. Alternatively, you can schedule your esketamine nasal spray consultation with a treatment center (such as Greenbrook) that has certification by the FDA’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). At Greenbrook's REMS-certified nasal esketamine treatment centers, our Greenbrook-affiliated psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners will review your medical history and also conduct our own assessment to help determine whether nasal esketamine treatment is right for you. Certain conditions, including blood vessel disease and a history of psychosis, may make treatment a risk for you. Make sure you discuss all previous and present conditions with your doctor or nasal esketamine provider before beginning treatment. If the medication is deemed a good fit, you’ll receive your prescription from the Greenbrook-affiliated provider. Your Greenbrook Care Team will put together a personalized care plan for the weeks and months to follow. Keep in mind that you will need to take a standard (oral) antidepressant along with your nasal esketamine treatment. There are two important regulations to note when it comes to preparing for treatment: Each treatment is followed by a mandatory two-hour observation period. This means you will need to plan to stay at the center for at least two hours following your self-administration of the esketamine nasal spray. You cannot drive during the rest of the day after treatment and must arrange for transportation. These regulations are mandatory. It may be helpful to sit down and plan out several weeks’ worth of transportation once you know your treatment schedule. In addition, if you’re wondering what to bring for the treatment, we recommend entertainment such as an audiobook or playlist of favorite songs and a pair of headphones. You may want them during the two-hour observation period. What to Expect During Nasal Esketamine Treatment On the day of treatment, you’ll need to stop eating any food two hours before your appointment and stop drinking all fluids 30 minutes before you come in. Your Greenbrook Care Team will confirm that you are prepared for the two-hour observation period and that you have a ride home. You’ll get the opportunity to practice using a “trainer sprayer” that mimics the real nasal esketamine sprayer but does not release any medication. The Care Team will encourage you to use the restroom and set up your preferred environment in your private treatment bay or room. Some patients like reduced lighting, for example, while others don’t request light adjustments. You’ll complete a depression scale before each treatment session. Your Greenbrook provider will confirm that the dose kit is yours, show you how to administer it, and then hand it to you. Each sprayer contained 28mg of Spravato esketamine nasal spray. Patients usually start with two sprayers (56mg) and soon increase to 84mg (three sprayers) per treatment. But, your dosage maybe vary. Should you be left with a metallic taste by the spray, the Care Team will offer suckers to help make the flavor dissipate. After your dose, you’ll be encouraged to lie back in your comfortable recliner. While most patients enjoy a quiet setting, Greenbrook is prepared to accommodate patients with a more animated reaction to the medication. You may feel sleepy, dizzy, mildly dissociated, and/or nauseated during treatment. Greenbrook's Care Team is readily available if you need assistance. How to Prepare for after your Nasal Esketamine Treatment Most side effects begin to wane in the second hour of observation, but if you’re wondering, “Is it safe to drive immediately after nasal esketamine treatment?” the answer is a resounding no. In addition to the mandatory ride home, you will need to block off time to rest and let side effects fully dissipate. This extended rest period is especially important in the first weeks of treatment when you’ll have treatment twice a week. Do not drive or operate machinery of any kind until the day after treatment. Just take it easy, relax, and take care of yourself. If you’re unsure what activities you can do or should avoid during this time, talk to your Care Team for more information. While side effects tend to dissipate completely after a good night’s sleep, many nasal esketamine patients begin feeling relief from depression symptoms within hours of their treatment. Other Tips in Preparing for Your Nasal Esketamine Treatment At Greenbrook, we make every effort to schedule your treatment in the afternoons or whenever it is most convenient for you. We encourage you to see each treatment session as an opportunity to relax and take care of your mental health. If you have any questions or concerns, talk to your doctor or the Greenbrook Care Team. At Greenbrook, we’ll help you feel at ease when preparing for each treatment session. Schedule A Free Consultation To get started with nasal esketamine, schedule your free consultation today.
Greenbrook supports an accessible internet. If you have any questions about our accessibility features, please contact us at
(855) 940-4867 or info@greenbrooktms.com.
