 | Doug Stark
is president of ComfortCare Homes, Inc. ComfortCare provides long-term care for the memory impaired at all levels of care and function in elegant, single-family residential homes. Born out of the Stark family's experience with Alzheimer's they have grown to 25 homes with 8 in Wichita and 17 in Nebraska and Virginia. A native of Wichita, Doug attended Wichita public schools and the University of Kansas. He served for 12 years as a Big Brother and has been a member of Wichita Rotary for 19 years. He is board member and Treasurer of Kansas Health Ethics. Doug can be contacted through his office at 7701 E. Kellogg, Suite #490, 67207, by calling (316) 685-3322, or by sending an e-mail to comfortcarehomes@aol.com |
Senior Living
2003-03-01 14:09:00
When to see the doctor?
: My 85-year-old mother is becoming more forgetful. We are all concerned that this is the first sign of Alzheimer's disease. Why can't her memory loss just be a normal part of aging? When should we have her checked by a doctor?
ANSWER: Today with the heightened awareness and media attention (deservedly so) of Alzheimer's disease, many witnessing a lapse in the memory of a loved one fear the worst. Actually memory loss comes in various forms and as a result of multiple causes, many having nothing to do with this dreaded disease. Although Alzheimer's is the leading cause of profound and progressive memory impairment, many people experience declines in their ability to recall events, names and recent activities for a host of other reasons, some disease and some non-disease related. First, researchers say that your cognitive capabilities peak somewhere in your late 20's and that there is a steady decline from that point on. In many, the decline is never really noticed until you are very elderly, if ever. On the other hand it is not uncommon for people the age of your 85-year-old mother to experience some cognitive deficits that are noticeable. In answer to your question of 'can memory loss just be a normal part of aging' the answer is yes. Your brain, like any organ is affected by your general physical condition. If you are in overall poor health your brain and its ability to stay sharp can suffer with the rest of your body. Other maladies that can affect cognition are sleep depravation, a poor diet, or a vitamin deficiency particularly a lack of B-12. The digestive tracts of some elderly no longer absorb adequate amounts of B-12, which is necessary for normal brain function. In this case, supplements of B-12 or even B-12 injections from your doctor might help in clearing up memory. Some experience what is referred to as a vascular dementia due to an overall decrease in the circulatory system of many elderly. Exercise of some type that can improve your circulation might be helpful here. Adverse reactions or the side effects of some medications can also play a factor. Another issue that researchers theorize may be a leading cause of impaired memory is stress. Everyone knows that when you are really stressed you don't usually think very clearly. Research now suggests that a hormone secreted in the brain at times of stress may play a big part in this. For people that get acutely stressed on a regular basis, or those that have experienced a lot of stress over a number of years, this may be a cause of their impaired memory. Alcohol or drug abuse over a number of years can also be a cause. Obviously your mother's memory issues could be the result of a diseases process or as a result of little 'mini strokes' referred to as multi-infarct strokes or TIA's. The answer to your question of when should you have her checked out depends on how pronounced her memory loss is and its progression. Is she just a little forgetful or does she have serious lapses of memory? It certainly doesn't hurt to have your mother worked up by a physician for her memory decline because as suggested above, there may be a fairly simple cause and solution. A simple analogy that I heard someone use in discussing memory concerns and when you should seek medical attention is this: if you walked out of the mall or the grocery store and forgot where you parked your car that is fairly normal. You either have been there so many times that they run together, or you were concentrating on something else as you parked your car. If, on the other hand you forgot that you drove there .. you probably need to go see someone. Also experts say that the secret to your brain working at peak efficiency baring a disease process is regular exercise, a good diet and plenty of sleep. Have you ever heard that before? It is also important to keep your mind active, as your brain needs exercise also. Play bridge, do the crossword puzzle, read, audit a course at the University, or volunteer your time. Remember, there is some truth to the rule "use it or loose it".
