Health Matters

Memory Loss
Have you ever forgotten your personal identification
number (PIN) or your own phone number? Are you
becoming more forgetful as you age? In this lesson,
you will learn about ten causes of memory loss.
Which types of memory loss do you have control over?
Which types are out of your control?

Pre-Reading
A. Discuss

“A good snapshot keeps a

moment from running away.”
—Eudora Welty

With today’s digital cameras and smartphones,

we capture more than just the most important
memories. Has technology made it harder
for us to keep track of our milestones?

B. Warm-Up Questions

1. What is your first childhood memory?

2. W
 hich memories are easier to remember,
good memories or bad memories?

3. Why is memory loss a scary subject?

4. Which milestone or memory do you hope you’ll never forget?

5. W
 hat personal tricks do you have for
remembering important information?

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 Memory Loss
Health Matters

Pre-Reading cont.
C. Checklist

Work with a partner. Have your partner test you. Compare your
answers with your partner’s answers. Which do you think is stronger,
your short-term memory or your long-term memory?

—— I remember the names of the past four leaders of my country.

—— I can easily memorize my partner’s phone number or address right now.

—— My first childhood memory was before the age of three.

—— I can name most of my past teachers.

—— I remember what I had for dinner last Friday night.

—— I can memorize seven items that my partner places in front of me right now.

D. V
 ocabulary Preview

Match up as many words and meanings as you can.

Check this exercise again after seeing the words in context on page 3.

1. amnesia a)  the enlargement of a body part

2. swelling b)  an injury caused by loss of blood flow to the brain

3. concussion c)  the loss of memory (usually due to illness or injury)

4. stroke d)  to rise and fall over time

5. aging e)  an injury from a hard hit to the head

6. memory lapse f)  something that takes your attention away from something else

7. concentrate g)  the gradual process of getting older

8. fluctuate h)  the state of not having full function or ability

9. distraction i)  to focus strongly on something

10. impairment j)  a short-term moment of forgetting something

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 Memory Loss
Health Matters

Reading
10 Causes of Memory Loss

1. Head Trauma 7. Depression or Anxiety

A blow to the head can cause short and An inability to focus is often an early sign of
long‑term amnesia. The impact can cause depression. Stress can also make it difficult to
bleeding or swelling in the brain. Many athletes concentrate. Memory storage becomes more
suffer from these types of concussions. difficult when you can’t pay attention. People
may also block out memories that they don’t
2. Stroke want to remember.

A stroke causes the blood to stop flowing to the

8. Pregnancy
brain. This can damage brain tissue. Stroke victims
often suffer from short-term memory loss, which Many pregnant women complain of having
may improve over time. “baby brain.” Hormones fluctuate during
pregnancy. This can interfere with short-
3. A ging term memory.

Forgetfulness is a normal part of aging. The

9. Distractions
human brain slows down as we get older. It is
normal for people over the age of 30 to have Noise, technology, and even too much activity
occasional memory lapses. People who are can make it difficult to store memories. Now you
over 65 often call these “senior moments.” know why it’s useful to study in a quiet space, free
from distractions, where you can focus on the
4. Poor Nutrition task at hand.

The brain requires protein and fat to function

10. D
 ementia
properly. A person whose diet is low in
vitamin B may suffer from memory problems. Dementia is a more serious form of memory
impairment. It results in the shrinking of the
5. Lack of Sleep brain. People who suffer from Alzheimer’s
disease (the most common form of dementia)
Sleep deprivation makes it difficult to focus, learn,
may get lost suddenly. They may also forget how
and remember what you take in. No wonder it’s
to do routine things, such as tying their shoes.
important to get a good night’s sleep before a test!

6. Drugs, Alcohol, and Medication

Did You Know?
The use and abuse of drugs or chemicals
The word “age” can be a noun or a verb.
often result in memory loss. While under the
influence of drugs, the brain has difficulty • My grandma’s age is 75. She is aging gracefully.
encoding, storing, and retrieving memory.

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 Memory Loss
Health Matters

Comprehension
Listen to your teacher read some statements about the text. If the
statement is true, write T beside the sentence. If it is false, write F and
correct the information on the line. If it is not mentioned, write NM.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Vocabulary Review
A. Word Forms

Look at the words in the chart and find them in the reading. Then identify
the word form in context (noun/verb/adjective). Then write an example
sentence to illustrate the vocabulary. Try to use a different word form.

# Word Form in Reading Example Sentence

Ex swelling noun My feet swell (verb) when I travel by airplane.

1 forgetfulness

2 aging

3 concentrate

4 fluctuate

5 distraction

6 impairment

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 Memory Loss
Health Matters

Vocabulary Review cont.

B. Odd One Out

Which word or phrase does not belong in the group?

1. a) head injury 2. a) anxiety 3. a) forget 4. a) focus 5. a) stroke

b) concussion b) damage b) swell b) lapse b) amnesia
c) accident c) weakness c) increase c) concentrate c) hormones
d) fluctuation d) impairment d) enlarge d) pay attention d) dementia

Writing
Create your own list about memory or memory loss.

Example Topics:

• Five Reasons Humans Are Forgetful

• Five Signs of Dementia
• Five Reasons to Wear a Helmet

Title:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

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 Memory Loss
Health Matters

Role-Play
DOCTOR’S ORDERS

Create a dialogue between a doctor and a young student who is

becoming forgetful. The doctor asks questions to find out why the
student is having trouble remembering information for his/her
exams. The doctor provides tips based on the checklist on page 2.
Try to use vocabulary (in bold) from the reading.

Discussion
1. W
 hen it comes to aging, what are you more worried about,
losing your mental abilities or losing your physical abilities?

2. Why is Alzheimer’s so difficult on family members?

3. What can be done to reduce concussions in sports?

4. H
 ow can you tell if a friend or family member is suffering
from depression or anxiety? What can you do to help?

5. H
 as anyone in your family or social circle suffered from amnesia?
Share the experience with your classmates.

Critical Thinking
A. Discussion B. Reflection

Which do you value more, your short-term memory Did you change your answer after the discussion,
or your long-term memory? Write down your answer. or do you still feel the same way?
Then discuss it with the class or a partner.
—— I feel the same.
—— I’ve had a change of heart.

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 Memory Loss
Health Matters

Answer Key
LESSON DESCRIPTION: LEVEL: Int – Adv

In this lesson, students learn about ten causes of memory loss. TIME: 1.5–2 hours
What’s worse, losing your short-term memory or your
TAGS:  discussion, memory, memory loss, health,
long-term memory? Students practice related vocabulary,
aging, short-term memory, long-term memory
discuss health-related issues, and create their own lists.

Pre-Reading Comprehension

A. DISCUSS Read these statements out loud to your class.

Discuss the quote and related questions as a class.

Statements
Answers will vary.
1. Concussions may result in short-term
B. WARM-UP QUESTIONS or long-term memory loss.
2. Vitamin B is important for healthy brain functioning.
Discuss as a class. Answers will vary.
3. When it comes to memory loss, alcohol
is worse for the brain than lack of sleep.
C. CHECKLIST
4. Everyone who gets older suffers from dementia.
Put students in pairs to check and compare results. 5. “Baby brain” is a myth. There is no reason
#2 and 6 are examples of short-term memory. for pregnant women to become forgetful.

D. VOCABULARY PREVIEW Answers

1. c 3. e 5. g 7. i 9. f 1. T
2. a 4. b 6. j 8. d 10. h 2. T
3. NM
Reading 4. F – A ging typically results in mild forms of
memory loss. Dementia is far more serious.
Have students read the article out loud or to themselves. 5. F – Pregnant women experience hormone
Review any difficult vocabulary. changes that may cause memory loss.

(continued on the next page...)

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 Memory Loss
Health Matters

Answer Key cont.

Vocabulary Review

A. WORD FORMS

Example sentences will vary.

1. noun 3. verb 5. noun

2. noun 4. verb 6. noun

B. ODD ONE OUT

1. d 2. a 3. a 4. b 5. c

Writing 

Assign this for homework or give

students time to do some research.

Role-Play

Put students in pairs and have them come up with a little skit.
Invite students to present their skits in front of the class.
Encourage students to use new vocabulary from the reading.

Discussion

Put students in small groups, or discuss as a class.

Critical Thinking

Put students in small groups, or discuss as a class.

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