Memory and Allergies | Allergy

Memory and Allergies

by Allergy Guy

Allergies can definitely affect your memory. If you feel like you’re becoming senile at age 20, then it could be an allergy symptom.

I have a better memory now, since eliminating allergens, than I did when I was 20, even though many years have passes since then.

There are two aspects to memory: storing the memory and recalling the memory.

There are also two types of memory: short-term memory and long-term memory.

In this article, I speak largely from my own experiences. Your experiences may be different. Allergies may not affect your memory at all, or they may affect your memory in a different way from what is described here.

Imagine this scenario: you’re playing a game with your friends, a variation on football with just three people – two on one team and one on the other. The goal is for the team of two to cross the goal line, with the third person defending the line.

You rotate partners to keep the game fair. One of the three is invincible, no one can get past him.

So you think of a strategy. You suggest to your friend that he starts running for the goal line, you fake a pass, and then run past the line yourself.

The only trouble is that 10 seconds later when you start play, you forget your own brilliant strategy, and instead of faking a pass, you actually pass the ball to your team mate, and lose again.

That’s exactly what happened to me when I was at university years ago. I used to do dumb things like that all the time, forget the most obvious things.

At the time, I knew something was wrong, but had no idea what it was.

When I cut wheat and gluten out of my diet, my memory magically improved.

Another allergy that affects my memory is mold allergy. Mold can be hard to avoid – it is very dependent on you environment – both inside and outside.

Now my short term memory is excellent for most things. Its about normal – not perfect, and I remember certain types of things better than others, just like most other healthy people.

If you think you are loosing your mind, and find your memory has deteriorated, it could definitely be a sign that you have allergy problems.

As with any other allergy symptom, there is no one symptom that goes along with all allergies for all people. You may find that of the various allergies you have, only some things affect your memory. Or you may find allergies do not affect your memory at all.

On the other hand, if you know you have allergies, but think you can live with the symptoms, you may find that avoiding the things that make you sick is well worth it, just so that you can improve your memory.

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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Melissa May 9, 2017 at 15:53

Where would someone go to get tested for food allergies that affect the brain.. a Dr. of some type (what type).. a nutritionist? Thank you.

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2 Danny June 28, 2011 at 21:09

Hi Allergy guy,

Just wondering how long did it take for your memory to start improving and reach optimal levels after you cut out Gluten?

I have been diagnosed with narcolepsy (sleep disorder), been suffering from memory problems, short, long, anything and eveything you can think of.

I have been off gluten for about 2 weeks, noticeable improvement in day time sleepiness/fatigue, still suffering from interupted sleept patterns and yet to achieve noticeable improvments on the neorological side of things (memory amonst other things).

Cheers,

Danny

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3 Allergy Guy June 29, 2011 at 09:25

Hi Danny,

It is probably a bit different for everyone. For me, the worst of the symptoms last 3 weeks after ingesting gluten, and clear completely after 8 weeks. I’m almost back to normal in three or four weeks, but it takes that long to get back to 100%.

When I first cut out gluten, I noticed a huge improvement after about three weeks.

It may take longer for some people. It does sound like you’re on the right track though, so keep it up!

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4 John March 27, 2011 at 20:53

Hey, thanks for putting your story up. I actually have exactly the same concerns right now – sometimes I feel like I’m going senile judging by some of the things I do: forgetting a thought I just came up with, forgetting an idea in the middle of a conversation, and just doing absolutely senseless things when I would have never done it in the past. I’m sometimes not able to carry out a plan with forgetting some part of it, and I often have to do something many, many times because I make the same mistake. Making the realization that I have a problem (though only a few weeks ago did I think it might be diet related) was a tremendous step, and it was painful at first to know this as I, too, have just entered my twenties. I’ve always been told I’m smart, so I thought I can’t possibly have an issue with my mind; and now, no course of action is going to bring back the time lost as a result of my neglect. Looking back, this kind of impairment has really damaged my life.

On a positive note, I will be off gluten (and perhaps other things) for a while. I’ll remember (hopefully =]) to post back, especially if I get better. Hopefully it won’t be too late for me after years of dietary neglect, and your story gives me the inspiration I need.

Thanks and all the best,
John

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5 Allergy Guy March 28, 2011 at 14:33

Hey John,

You’ve made the first important step of realizing there is a problem, and the second important step of looking for answers and trying to find out the cause.

And better to figure it out in your twenties than your forties, I can tell you that! From my perspective, yes, I wish my late teens and early twenties had been more productive and I had been better able to take advantage of opportunities that came my way. But then again, the next 25 years of my life has been very much about being productive and surfing great opportunities.

You’re on the right track. Keep looking forward 🙂 !

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