Occasionally, each of us in the general population experiences memory problems.

Memory and concentration difficulties are among the most commonly reported symptoms associated with service in the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War.

Among Gulf War Veterans, 34% listed difficulty remembering things or concentrating as one of their top 7 symptoms and 14% listed difficulty remembering things or concentrating as one of their top 3 symptoms after returning from the Persian Gulf.

Of the deployed veterans, 32% of individuals reported difficulty with memory and/or concentration lasting more than 6 months, whereas this symptom was only noted in 8% of non-deployed veterans.

Some examples of memory complaints:

• My brain just doesn’t work as well as it used to
  
• I seem to be more scatter-brained than I used to be
  
• I just don’t feel like myself these days
  
• I feel like I’m in a fog

For anyone, problems with memory and cognitive functioning (thinking) can be a concern. There are some possible contributing factors that may cause memory issues such as:

• Tiredness
  
• Sleepiness
  
• Depression and/or anxiety
  
• Chronic pain
  
• Boredom
  

Also, when people experience long-term stress, their bodies try to conserve energy. When energy conservation is taking place, energy for complex thought is diminished.

How does memory work?

There are 3 basic parts to memory.

1. Attention: In order to remember something, it has to get into your head in the first place. For example a car may drive by, but if you do not notice it, you cannot remember it.
   
2. Storage: Think of your brain as a computer. You have active memory (like RAM: which holds about 7 pieces of information) and you have long-term memory (like your hard drive). If you have too much information coming in too fast, it won’t be stored properly and simply piles up only to be forgotten. Sometimes our ability to store information is slowed down (e.g., if you are tired or on medication).
   
3. Retrieval: You may attend to and store information perfectly; but if you forget where you stored the information, you won’t be able to access it. Imagine your filing cabinet. If the papers that are stored in it are carelessly piled into the drawer, retrieval will be difficult. On the other hand, if papers are filed in labeled folders, you are more likely to find what you are looking for. The same is true of how you store and retrieve information in your memory.

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