The results indicated that the patients with Ménière's disease developed all-cause dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and vascular dementia more frequently than those in the comparison group during the 11-year follow-up period.
In other words, there were deficits in attention, recognition and recall in verbal memory, recall in visual memory, visual spatial construction, and planning skills in patients with Meniere's disease. Education years and depression scores of participants had a significant effect on cognitive function in all groups.
After an attack, persons with Meniere's can be left with "brain fog." This is a term used to describe the forgetfulness, disorientation, and feelings of confusion or sensory overload that appear after an attack is over.
When the head moves, the endolymph also moves. This causes nerve receptors in the membranous labyrinth to signal the brain about the body's motion. Excess endolymph buildup in the labyrinth can interfere with the normal balance and hearing signals between the inner ear and the brain. This is Ménière disease.
Our vestibular system is part of our inner ear and helps regulate balance and even cognitive function. When our vestibular system is affected by a disease like vertigo, labyrinthitis or Meniere's disease, we experience confusion, discombobulation and memory issues.
Common causes
“Stress and mood disturbances can act as a distraction and make it difficult to focus, which can lead to memory problems.” Medications – These can include but aren't limited to over-the-counter sleep aids, allergy medications, overactive bladder medications and pain medications (specifically narcotics).
Sudden forgetfulness and confusion can be a sign of dehydration. As you stand, especially if you have been sitting for an extended time, you may have a decrease in blood flow to your brain. Low blood flow may cause dizziness, confusion, and even small bouts of forgetfulness.
Vertigo is one of the most common and noticeable symptoms of Ménière's disease. As well as a sensation of spinning, you may also experience additional symptoms during an attack of vertigo, such as dizziness, feeling or being sick, and problems with balance. You may have difficulty standing or walking.
The MRI scan will not confirm a diagnosis of Ménière's disease, nor will it show which ear is affected or how severe the condition is. During initial investigation it is important to exclude many serious conditions which can cause vertigo or unilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.
You can get confused easily and your memory and concentration aren't reliable. It's what some people with the disease refer to as "brain fog". Many of them originally were afraid that they may have a brain tumor or Alzheimer's because it can sometimes gets so bad.
The symptoms associated with an inner ear infection can often result in confusion, forgetfulness and even memory problems. Some patients report experiencing 'brain fog', this term describes experiencing a lack of mental clarity and focus.
Meniere's disease may develop slowly over time, with a gradual loss of hearing, or suddenly with a vertigo attack. Attacks can last from 10 minutes to several hours. After an attack, the person may experience mild deafness and feel unsure of their footing.
Meniere's disease can happen at any age. But it usually starts between the ages of 40 to 60. It's thought to be a lifelong condition. But some treatments can help ease symptoms and lessen how it affects your life long-term.
Meniere's disease may also require bed rest and diuretic medications in addition to VBAs. Ultimately, once your neurologist has diagnosed the cause of your vertigo, they will provide you with a customized treatment plan to alleviate your symptoms.
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for people to be misdiagnosed with Meniere's disease as there is no definitive test for it, and other conditions have similar symptoms.
Meniere's disease is typically diagnosed by an otolaryngologist. During a clinic visit, your doctor will take your medical history and conduct a physical exam.
Is Ménière's disease common? No, it's rare. According to the most recent data from National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, about 615,000 people in the United States have the disorder.
Though vertigo is a symptom of Meniere's disease, the chronic condition can have multiple other side effects and tends to get progressively worse. On the other hand, vertigo does not necessarily link with a more severe condition, such as Meniere's disease.
Many people with Meniere's disease feel better if they do vigorous aerobic exercise on a regular basis (e.g. bike, rowing machine, etc.). Don't over-extend yourself – if you can't physically manage vigorous aerobic exercise do something more low impact, like yoga or walking.
Forgetfulness can arise from stress, depression, lack of sleep or thyroid problems. Other causes include side effects from certain medicines, an unhealthy diet or not having enough fluids in your body (dehydration). Taking care of these underlying causes may help resolve your memory problems.
The most common causes of sudden confusion include: a lack of oxygen in the blood (hypoxia) – the cause could be anything from a severe asthma attack to a problem with the lungs or heart. an infection anywhere in the body, especially in elderly people. a stroke or TIA ('mini stroke')
Some medical conditions can cause long-term confusion. These include a stroke, epilepsy or seizures, poor kidney function, Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia. If you suspect any of these conditions, it's important to seek medical advice.
One survey found millennials (ages 18 to 34) more likely to forget what day it is or where they put their keys than seniors. Memory loss in young adults is almost always a direct result of an unhealthy lifestyle that includes a lack of sleep, excess stress, a poor diet, and recreational substance use.