We constantly read about the need for mental stimulation to enhance the efficiency of our brains. The current catch word is “neural plasticity.” This process involves the elaboration of brain function by activity. We learn to speak, to walk, to ski, to golf because of our brain’s innate ability to learn from experience. This is true for those of all ages. Indeed one of the essential ingredients in treating progressive memory loss is keeping engaged in doing and learning. The subject doesn’t matter. It is in the doing that counts. This principle even applies to those with “early Alzheimer’s disease” or “mild cognitive impairment.” The key to successful treatment of dementias — keep engaged. No matter what stage of memory loss, human beings need to be active in the world. They need stimulation for their brain as much as the […]
Self Help
I have believed for years that Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders are present for decades before a medical diagnosis can be made. A newly published study confirms my belief. The study focused on healthy, independently living persons 40 years or older who were cognitively normal. Nearly 80 percent of the participants expressed concerns about decline in their memory (“Worriers”); the rest reported that they felt they had normal memory (“Nonworriers”). The two groups were similar in education and ratio of men to women. The average age of participants was about 65. Interestingly, all participants did very well on the Mini-Mental State Exam. The exam is very commonly used in research and clinical practice to screen for dementia and memory loss and has a perfect score of 30 points. Participants average score was 29 (a score that can lead to false […]
There are effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. Don’t wait for the magic elixir that may never come. The first thing to go is short-term memory. Treatment involves first understanding the changes in your memory and whether they are different from changes due to aging. A thorough memory assessment should help you understand, in detail, the strengths and weaknesses of your memory. Do you remember better visual or verbal information? Do you benefit from hints to improve your memory? Even if you cannot recall new information, are you able to recognize it? Are your other brain skills still sharp? Answers to these questions will help you decide on the strategies that will work best for you. Use external memory supports. For example, if you are struggling with arithmetic but can still do a checkbook, you may wish to use a calculator […]
