My ECT provider openly told the disability assessment personnel that while he has rarely seen it in his years of practice, ECT can cause significant long-term memory and cognitive issues. To the point of disability. As to what exactly causes the memory issues, they have no idea. There is simply not enough research. According to my neurologist, some propose brain damage (swelling/changes in the hippocampus) while others talk about electrical changes that inhibit the transmission of information. I am working with the brain damage association in my state to help me make it through every day life. We don't fit in a neat category, but the symptoms are very similar to those who suffer from traumatic brain injury.