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There’s Plenty That Can Be Done to Prevent Memory Loss
By Amy Jo Johnson, The Bay City Times
April 14, 2009
Want to head off memory loss?
There's a lot you can do.
For starters, keep your blood pumping through regular exercise, says Sandra Lauria, an occupational therapist at Bay Regional Medical Center.
"Because anything that helps your cardiovascular system ... also helps your brain," she said.
That means in addition to exercise you'll want to:
• Eat a proper diet.
• Prevent/treat diabetes.
• Prevent heart disease and stroke.
• Avoid drug abuse and excessive alcohol consumption.
• Control your blood pressure.
• Stay social and have fun.
• Get enough rest.
LEARN MORE
Golden Horizons, 1001 Marsac St., regularly offers free educational programs on dementia for family caregivers, paid caregivers and direct care workers. An overview of Alzheimer's and other dementias will be presented at 9:30 a.m. April 22 and 7 p.m. April 23.
Learn more about dementia, a group of symptoms that includes memory loss, declining intellectual abilities, confusion and personality changes. Alzheimer's disease is just one cause of dementia. Legal, financial and health care issues also will be discussed.
Reservations are required. Complimentary adult day-care is available for the morning session. Call Gloria Rose at 892-6644 to make a reservation.
• Keep stress levels in check.
And, experts say, there's one more thing that will help keep your memory strong: Challenge yourself.
Learn a new language. Take up ballroom dancing. Play sudoku or brain-teaser puzzles like Nintendo's Brain Age. It doesn't really matter what you do as long as you do something to keep your brain stimulated. The more senses you use, the better.
The key is to mix it up.
"Once you feel like you've kind of mastered (an activity), you want to go do something else," said Lauria, who recommends everyone take steps to care for not only their physical but also their mental health throughout life.
Don't wait for old age to settle in, she says.
It's proven - staying involved in life helps stave off memory loss.
Engaging in "cognitive activities like reading books, playing games or crafting in middle age or later life are associated with a decreased risk of mild cognitive impairment. Mild cognitive impairment is a transitional state between normal aging and the earliest features of Alzheimer's disease," according to a February 2009 posting on the Mayo Clinic Web site.
Want to know more about what you can do to prevent or slow down memory loss? Lauria suggests visiting
www.aarp.org.
"They have an excellent Web site," Lauria said.
And when it comes to memory loss, Lauria says people shouldn't sweat the small stuff.
Don't fret if you forget your keys. Don't panic if you forget where you parked the car. These things happen to everyone once and a while.
Seek help when you don't remember how you got where you are. Did you drive? Were you dropped off?
If you do suspect that you or a loved one is having problems with memory loss, see a physician, Lauria said.
Memory loss can be attributed to dehydration, a reaction to medicine, vitamin deficiency and thyroid problems, among other things.
Be concerned if your loved one becomes withdrawn, Lauria said. Often, she said, people who are beginning to experience memory loss stay home more often because they recognize that things aren't right and they are frightened or embarrassed.
"Their personalities kind of change," she said. "They become withdrawn from activities. You notice that they don't participate in things like they used to."
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