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What Does 'narrowing Arteries In The Brain' Mean And Can It Cause Memory Loss?

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Posted on Sat, 1 Feb 2014
Question: What does it mean to have narrowing of the arteries in the brain? Can it cause memory loss? Long or short term, what could happen?
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Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (30 minutes later)
Brief Answer: it is possible that it caused memory loss Detailed Answer: HI, thanks for using healthcare magic There are two types of blood vessels in the body, the arteries and the veins. Simplistically speaking the arteries take blood with oxygen to the body and the veins carry blood away from the organs back to the heart and lungs to receive oxygen after it has been used. Narrowing of the arteries in any part of the body is commonly related to the formation of atherosclerosis. This is the build up of fatty plaques and cholesterol in the blood vessels. This build up narrows the blood vessels.It occurs with aging, high blood pressure, diabetes, increased weight and inactivity, smoking, diabetes, family history of high cholesterol. It is possible that reduced blood flow could affect memory but the flow would have to be significantly diminished so that it affects that ability of the brain to function. The reduced flow would have to be to the extent that the brain is compromised. I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Michelle Gibson James

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 16808 Questions

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What Does 'narrowing Arteries In The Brain' Mean And Can It Cause Memory Loss?

Brief Answer: it is possible that it caused memory loss Detailed Answer: HI, thanks for using healthcare magic There are two types of blood vessels in the body, the arteries and the veins. Simplistically speaking the arteries take blood with oxygen to the body and the veins carry blood away from the organs back to the heart and lungs to receive oxygen after it has been used. Narrowing of the arteries in any part of the body is commonly related to the formation of atherosclerosis. This is the build up of fatty plaques and cholesterol in the blood vessels. This build up narrows the blood vessels.It occurs with aging, high blood pressure, diabetes, increased weight and inactivity, smoking, diabetes, family history of high cholesterol. It is possible that reduced blood flow could affect memory but the flow would have to be significantly diminished so that it affects that ability of the brain to function. The reduced flow would have to be to the extent that the brain is compromised. I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions