I feel like I'm losing my intelligence, I'm only 22.?

Question

I'm very concered about this, is there some sort of brain scan I can take that can detect any fault in the brain?

Umm..no I wasnt like this before. Only serious answers please.

Answer 1

Yes, there are brain scans that can be done that would show irregularities, but it's probably not necessary under normal circumstances for a 22-year-old. You can ask your doctor to get an opinion. I feel like I am losing my intelligence sometimes, too, but I think it's just paranoia associated with getting older.

To keep your mind healthy, you have to keep it active! Read intellectually-challenging books. Don't have meaningless socialization--instead, get into debates with your friends that require you to think. Write letters or poems or essays that require you to use your mental skills.

The neural connections in your brain *will* deteriorate if you don't keep them healthy! But if you work at improving yourself, you will actually get smarter with age. Sometimes I like to go to Wikipedia and just browse the encyclopedia for a couple hours. That makes me feel smarter because it activates a lot of connections in my brain. Don't do anything that kills brain cells!

Answer 2

You know, I feel the same way. I have been feeling like this for a couple of years now. I'm in my mid-twenties. I feel like things that used to be easy for me are getting harder, like problem-solving ect... I don't know why. I feel like I was wayy smarter in high school then now. But here are two reasons why this may be happening...that I can think of. 1: Our minds were more open to new things because we had experienced less and we were therefore more like a sponge absorbing evrything. Maybe now because we have learned to form judgements we are more closed off to learning or the world around us...basically we have lost the idea that we can do anything. Or 2: Diagnosed as gifted when I was younger, everything was easy because school is made for students who are middle of the road average. It's too challenging for those below and not enough for those above. So I got lazy and thought it would always come easy...but now the playing field is more level and I feel something I've never felt before: Challenge. You decide.

Answer 3

Have you recently become a parent? gotten married? Increased the stress level in your life? All these factors can contribute to the "feeling like I am losing my mind" feeling. A lot of people jokingly call it "adult onset adhd". There is an email that is actually circulating with all the symptoms. There is also endometriosis, which effects millions of women and they are misdiagnosed with depression when it is hormones from the endometriosis messing with their mind. I am one of them. But I am feeling much better thanks to the proper diagnosis and treatment.

My suggestion is to first of all, take a few days off and just relax. No chores, no work, no visitors, just mind cleansing quiet. If it continues talk to your doctor. You may temporarily need something to help you or further testing to find out the root of the issue. And remember, just because a medical problem MAY involve the mind, it doesn't mean you SHOULD not treat it. If it were diabetes, you would defeinatly take your insulin. So if you need it, accept help from your doctor. :) Good Luck.

Answer 4

Forget the brain scan. You may have a slight psychological problem is all. If you are really worried go to the cheaper psychologist first.

Best thing though is to follow something interesting, get out and about, talk to a wider range of friends and be positive. At 22 your brain is still developing.

Answer 5

There is no such thing as a brain scan for intelligence. There are reading and oral tests that determine intelligence levels. These tests vary in cost. Some are like the Grad Record Exam while others are given in doctors' offices. While school exams are relatively inexpensive, those in doctors' offices can range up to and beyond $1000.00. If you want to increase your intelligence, read more, review the study materials for college entrance exams or the graduate record exams.

Answer 6

There can be lots of reasons for feeling this way--chronic stress, thyroid or hormonal problems, ongoing low-level viruses, etc. Please see a doctor, and make sure to tell him all your symptoms, any other changes in your life, and so forth. An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is a brain scan that shows the structure of your brain and can detect brain tumors, etc., but there are not brain scans for figuring out if your brain is working right. They are working on PET (Positron Emmission Topography), that show brain activity, but they are not yet used for diagnosis. Also make sure to be eating healthy, exercising and getting enough sleep-all causes of "brain drain." Best of luck to you.

Answer 7

I have been looking at Amy's answers and she seems to sound to me like she knows what she is talking about.

I ended up in a in a nut house in 2005. I knew I was losing MY intelligence. I was laid off work for over a half year and my thyroid doctor had been moving around and so I let my family doctor play thyroid doctor. Knowing that I had no income she was making me have an office visit monthly and blood drawn monthly and changing the dosage (lowering it) monthly and then she put me on blood pressure pills and I heard her hint at a diabetes test.

I told my doctor that the thyroid doctor was only seeing me once every three months and wrote my prescription for 100 pills. I got her to write me a prescription for three months but she would call the pharmacy and have them change it for a one month supply.

I got to where I didn't set an appointment and they didn't call to remind me of an appointment because there wasn't one. They would call after a one month time and say you missed your appointment; what appointment? None was made.

I would play offline games on the computer for I couldn't afford to be on the internet any more. I COULDN'T play the games any more MY IQ went down that much. Games that I had been able to play and I became a mental idiot. I was afraid to drive so I stopped doing that as well.

The church helped. I gave them permission to have me commented. My medication has been straightened out and I got out of the nut house and I go to my thyroid doctor again for he has found where he wants to be.

I know other people who have thyroid problems and they say that once the doctor gets your medication right they release you for a year. Well he use to see me once every three months and when I told him about what I was told; then he released me for a year.

I am back at work now but thanks to my family doctor I have medical bills to pay to the hosiptal where they scanned my brain and to the mental institution.

I stopped taking the blood pressure pills and my blood pressure is going down.

Answer 8

If you think it, you will be it. Stop it! Plus, you're in college, right? Or newly single and independent? Do you have any REAL food in your apartment/house, or just junk? Do you eat fast food frequently? Braindrain diet! A balanced diet really does work, especially lots of green leafy veggies for brainpower and a quick cuppa joe(coffee) in the a.m. for a jump start in the wee hours before school or work. And drink lots of water so your skin cells don't flake off and leave your bones standing in the wind.

Answer 9

Discuss this with your GP, or someone else who can refer you for testing once you have fully explains your concerns and symptoms. I'd guess that this is probably stress related, but, in any case, have it checked out. That in and of itself will make you feel better, and, perhaps, catch a more serious problem at a very early stage so it can be more easily treated.

Answer 10

i would go to my doctor an get a scan done, maybe your a little stressed out over something, so talk to some one and see how u go, im sure u r fine though good luck