Complications Of Lyme Disease

Memory Impairment

An individual who has become infected with the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria and has developed Lyme disease may experience memory impairment. Problems with brain function in an affected individual occur when the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria find a way to penetrate through and cross the blood-brain barrier. When the bacteria cross the barrier, inflammation, swelling, and damage occur in the tissues of the brain. Inflammation in the brain can lead to a condition where not enough blood and oxygen can reach a section of the brain. As a result, the affected brain tissues cannot perform their normal functions and begin to shut down. This loss of function is what causes these neurological symptoms that occur with Lyme disease. The neurological impairment can include symptoms like short-term memory loss, brain fog, difficulty with retrieving vocabulary, confusion, word repetition, and a tendency to use incorrect words or mix up words.