3 Weird Things That Kill Your Memory.

1.  Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2), also known as Human herpes virus 1 and 2 (HHV-1 and -2).  - This virus could leave more than a cold sore. Herpes is linked to memory problems, finds new research in Neurology. In fact, people with the virus and similar chronic bacterial and viral infections were 26 percent more likely to score below standard on a memory test than those who were infection-free. Long-term infections redline your immune system and can damage the blood vessels leading to your brain, says study author Mira Katan, M.D., a neurologist at Columbia University Medical Center. The result: reduced mental power. While it’s still not clear how to counter the memory-squashing effects once and for all, working out and taking prescription antiviral treatments could limit the damage, Dr. Katan says. Herpes isn’t the only weird thing that whittles your memory away. If you’re feeling foggy, these two other unsuspecting factors could be to blame. Continue reading after the cut...................
2. Low Levels of Vitamin B12 - A study at Rush University found that markers of vitamin B12 deficiencywere associated with declining cognitive ability over a period of 6 years. Scientists propose that a lack of B12 allows certain harmful amino acids to build up in the bloodstream and damage arteries, reducing blood flow to the brain. The fix: Eggs, beef, milk, and seafood are all good sources of B12. Check your daily multivitamin, too – most contain more than the 3.2 micrograms that the Food and Drug Administration recommends per day.
3. Stress - You probably already feel like your brain is too cluttered to remember everything on your to-do list. (That’s what Siri’s for, right?) But a stressed-out life can cause long-term memory problems: A Czech study found that high-stress jobs increase the risk of dementia by as much as 35 percent.Blame inflammation, which is elevated in response to your body’s stress hormones, and accelerates your brain’s aging. The good news? The researchers found that people with good social support cut the damage caused by job stress by 20 percent.