November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month
Contributed by Vijaya Reddy, MD
As a geriatric specialist, I often see middle aged as well as older women who are concerned about their mental health because they’ve started forgetting things. And quite often they assume they must be suffering from memory loss, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. But the truth is there are many factors that can contribute to forgetfulness. This includes things like organic brain diseases, infections, medication side effects, and your current emotional state.
In the past decade, cognitive neuroscientists have learned that much of what we blame on fading memory in midlife can be more accurately attributed to failing attention. But as we age, physiological changes in the brain’s frontal lobes can make it harder to maintain attention in the face of distractions. For older adults this can be tough to swallow—your brain is aging right along with your body. But in both cases you can put up a fight. Studies have shown that cardiovascular fitness is associated with the sparing of brain tissue in aging humans. The results suggest a strong biological basis for the role of aerobic fitness in maintaining and enhancing central nervous system health and cognitive functioning in older adults.
Today’s healthcare isn’t just about extending life it’s about improving the mental and physical quality of life we enjoy in our later years. The National Institutes of Health shares information on the benefits of exercise and physical activity for older people. And remember, if you’ve become forgetful, don’t jump to any conclusions. Keep in mind there is a difference between occasional forgetfulness that comes with aging and constantly forgetting things or struggling with routine tasks. If you are concerned about yourself or a loved one, schedule an appointment with a geriatric doctor so she can thoroughly evaluate the situation and come up with an effective plan to ease your worries.
The following chart provided by the Alzheimer’s Association provides a good overview of what’s normal aging and what could be more serious.
Normal signs of aging |
Early signs of Alzheimer’s |
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Source: Alzheimer’s Association