Memory loss is one of the common illnesses that are found in aged or elderly people. Experts are claiming to have found some new clues to common memory loss problem in elders, which they are stating to be the silent strokes that are so tiny to hear or feel when they occur.

As has been stated by experts till now that weakening of functioning of brain parts or deterioration of hippocampus that is primarily involved in controlling a person’s memory and its related functions is the cause of memory loss in elderly adults is undoubtedly very true but researchers are claiming to have found one more reason that could be added to the list of causes of memory loss.

Regarding the new findings from the recent study, some statements have directly come from the study researcher Prof Adam Brickman, PhD, who has said that his new research has added one more possible cause to the list.

"What our study suggests is, even when we account for the decline in memory attributed to hippocampal shrinkage or degeneration, that strokes ... play an additional role in the memory decline”, Brickman, a Herbert Irving Assistant Professor of Neuropsychology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

He has clearly mentioned in the findings of the study that though strokes cannot be directly related to memory, they can be linked or strokes can cause loss of mental abilities of a person like speed of processing information or attention etc.

The findings of the above new research have been published online in the journal Neurology.

The researchers ran their study over approx 658 people, all aged 65+ and free of dementia. They ran MRI brain scans over them along with performing many more tests on their memory, language, speed at processing information, and visual perception.

They noted the evidences of tiny strokes in all the patients, counted their number and concluded the above facts.