Memory troubles are normal as you age, but certain symptoms point to serious cognitive decline.
We all have those moments where we blank on someone’s name or forget to recall a detail that’s just sitting in the back of your mind. These are normal memory issues that can occur at any age, and are nothing to worry about. In fact, our brains start to shrink around age 30, so these things can be considered normal.
For the estimated 6 million+ Americans who have dementia, however, the changes in memory and brain function go beyond what is considered normal, age-related cognitive decline.
To be diagnosed with dementia however, there must be significant decline in more than one cognitive area that affects daily living. This includes memory problems, as well as trouble in a second area such as language, visual/spatial functioning, or executive functioning (multitasking).
There are 4 different types of dementia
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Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause, affecting between 60 to 80% of those with dementia.
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Vascular dementia, when a series of strokes reduce the oxygen flow to the brain
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Lewy body dementia, which is caused by a buildup of abnormal proteins in the brain
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Frontotemporal dementia, which affects the part of the brain responsible for personality and behavior
When a person has symptoms of more than one type, it’s called mixed dementia. In some cases, memory loss and confusion can be caused by factors that can be treated or even reversed, such as vitamin deficiencies, hypothyroidism, medication side effects, and depression
What are the early signs of dementia?
If you notice that you or a loved one is experiencing any of the following symptoms, it may be time to check in with a doctor to get a professional diagnosis
1. Forgetting things you just learned
2. New problems managing money
3. Getting lost in familiar places
4. Consistent confusion about time and day
5. Visuospatial issues that can lead to falls or unsafe driving
6. Forgetting common words
7. Constantly losing things
8. A lack of interest in reading
9. A new desire to Skip social gatherings
10. Changes in personality
Who is most at risk for dementia?
The number one risk factor for dementia is age, and it increases exponentially for each decade past age 60. Genetics also play a role; if you have a parent or sibling with dementia, you are somewhat more likely to develop it yourself.
Dementia also disproportionately affects women and communities of color: According to the Alzheimer’s Association, about two-thirds of all people with dementia are women. Older Black and Hispanic Americans are up to two times as likely to develop dementia as older white Americans.
Other factors may include high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol, because they put the brain in a more vulnerable state, in which the pathology of dementia can take hold.
So what can you do?
Making lifestyle changes, including getting regular exercise, eating a Mediterranean-style diet, and maintaining strong social ties can lower your risk of cognitive decline as you age.
There are new ways of testing for Alzheimer’s, even up to a decade before symptoms set in. You can read about them here: https://www.prevention.com/health/memory/a28555874/tests-fight-alzheimers-disease/
At Restoring Health, we use neurofeedback to help maintain a healthy brain and stop the onset of dementia symptoms. Neurofeedback is a computer-based system for retraining brainwaves into making more healthy patterns. For those with advanced neurological issues like dementia, neurofeedback could help get you back into a more normal and healthy state of mind. To learn more , check out our neurofeedback page on this site or call (321)-444-6750 for more information.
