When you’re living with depression, it’s not just your mood that changes. You might also feel tired, distracted or forgetful. Your brain might feel foggy. You might frequently forget what you’re doing in the middle of an action. If this sounds familiar, there’s a reason. According to Cleveland Clinic, depression can have a disruptive effect on many areas of your brain. It disrupts brain processing that is essential to making and retaining memories. As a result, depression can lead to memory loss.

Learning more about the depression-memory connection can show you why depression impacts memory, how it shows up in daily life, and how treatment can help you feel more clear, focused and supported.

Here are five things you should know about the depression-memory connection.

• Defining depression and memory

Depression is a mental health disorder that affects your thoughts, feelings and behaviors. It can also impact your body. Depression may make you feel very sad, tired, hopeless and uninterested in things you used to enjoy. It can affect how you focus, remember and make decisions.

Memory is your brain’s way of storing and using information. There are different types of memory:

• Short-term memory holds information for a few seconds or minutes.
• Working memory helps you use that information to complete tasks.
• Long-term memory stores information from your past.

When your brain is healthy and rested, these systems work smoothly. However, depression can get in the way.

• Whether depression causes memory loss

If you’re wondering whether depression can lead to memory loss, the answer is yes, it can. Research shows that depression can affect attention, processing speed and working memory. This means your brain may struggle to take in and use information quickly and clearly. A 2022 study found that people with major depression often have a harder time with memory tasks, especially when they’re feeling most unwell.

Depression affects the brain’s hippocampus, which plays a big role in memory. Studies have shown that people with chronic or untreated depression may have a smaller hippocampus. But effective treatment may reverse or minimize the volume loss. Depression can also slow down the brain’s ability to form new connections, making it harder to learn or remember new things.

Fortunately, the cognitive effects of depression are not necessarily permanent. In many cases, they are temporary and treatable.

• Depression and forgetfulness: How to tell when depression is contributing to forgetfulness

It’s natural for everyone to forget things sometimes. You might forget where you put your keys or what you were about to say. When you’re depressed, this kind of forgetfulness might happen more often and feel more frustrating.

The difference between depression-related memory problems and serious memory disorders (like dementia) is that:

• Depression-related memory problems are usually mild to moderate.
• They tend to improve with mental health treatment.
• They’re often connected to other symptoms like poor sleep, low energy or lack of motivation.

Many people with depression describe memory issues like:

• “I can’t focus on what I’m reading.”
• “I keep losing track of conversations.”
• “I forget appointments or deadlines.”
• “It feels like my brain is in a fog.”

These experiences are common and real. They’re nothing to be ashamed of.

If your memory struggles are affecting your job, home life or daily life, it’s a good idea to talk to a licensed clinical therapist.

• Why depression can lead to memory loss

There are a few reasons why depression can affect memory, including:

• Stress and cortisol levels — When you’re stressed, your body produces a hormone called cortisol. High cortisol levels over a long period of time can hurt the hippocampus, the part of the brain that stores and organizes memory. People with depression often have higher cortisol levels, especially during stressful periods.
• Lack of sleep — Depression can cause sleep problems, like insomnia or waking up too early. Without good sleep, your brain doesn’t get the rest it needs to store memories and you can struggle to stay focused during the day.
• Low energy and motivation — When you’re depressed, even simple tasks can feel hard. This low energy can make it difficult to concentrate, which then affects how well you remember things later.
• Chemical imbalances — Depression is often linked to chemical imbalances. Low levels of serotonin, an important neurotransmitter, are associated with depression. Dopamine system dysfunction is linked to certain symptoms of depression, such as low motivation. Chemicals like serotonin and dopamine help your brain process information, manage mood and stay alert. When imbalanced, they can contribute to many different depression symptoms.

• How Lightfully can help with memory issues related to depression

If you’re noticing memory problems possibly linked to depression, you don’t have to figure it out alone. At Lightfully, we use a unique and supportive approach to mental health treatment called our Precision Care Model (PCM). With PCM, we’ll create a treatment plan that’s made just for you. PCM incorporates aspects of evidence-based treatment modalities like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and somatic therapies.

In our different levels of care, which include our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), we also focus on routines, nutrition and sleep. Though things may seem small, they play a big role in helping your brain function well.

You don’t have to feel “foggy” or forgetful forever. With the right care, it’s possible to feel clearer, stronger and more yourself again.

Get comprehensive depression treatment at Lightfully

If you’re struggling to remember things, feeling low or wondering if depression is affecting your daily life, now is a great time to reach out. At Lightfully, we see each client as a whole person, not just a diagnosis. We’ll walk with you through each step of your journey toward healing.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.