|
 |
Toby Laping Associates www.WNYCareManager.com
Eldercare News |
|
You Need To Know . . . Memory Loss or "Where are my car keys?" by Toby F. Laping, Ph.D., C.S.W. I’ll bet that every one of us over age 60 has lost our keys plenty of times. I’ll also bet that at least once but probably more often, we’ve all thought to ourselves while going through our pockets again and again looking for those keys, “I hope it isn’t Alzheimer’s”. That’s what everyone fears. Far be it from me to deny that a disease like Alzheimer’s can be frightening. Still, you need to know some things before you panic so badly that you’ll never find those keys. You need to know that there are multiple explanation in addition to Alzheimer’s Disease for loss of recent memory, and some of those causes are very treatable. For example, the very panic that comes with lost keys can itself make it harder to remember things. Although I think I handle stress well, in reality I sometimes realize after a stressful episode that I haven’t thought so clearly as I should have. We know that stress affects thinking and has a negative effect on memory. We also know that depression can affect memory. That shouldn’t be any surprise - depression saps energy, and remembering things takes effort and energy. You have to focus your mind in order to remember, and especially when you’re depressed, you often just don’t feel like making yourself work that hard. Furthermore, people sometimes simply forget because life is frantic and we are bombarded with things we should know, and sometimes we can’t absorb everything that we’re expect to take in. Be sure that you’re not really pushing yourself to absorb too much if you fear you are having problems with memory beyond a reasonably normal expectation. We also know that some types of vitamin deficiency can cause loss of short term memory. So can acute infections such as a urinary tract infection. And, so can certain medications, especially with drug interactions. I could go on but you get the idea. If you think your memory loss is real, see your doctor. If your doctor says, “Of course you have memory troubles. At your age, what do you expect?”, go to another doctor. Some diminution in memory as we age is common and not indicative of disease, but if your situation is more than that, don’t let your doctor pass you off as simply an old person. You probably should have what’s often referred to as a “dementia workup”. That means that you’ll have a series of tests including a physical exam, blood work, an assessment of whether you’re depressed, etc. This work up helps to identify and then treat the underlying disease processes, and treatments can be helpful. Suppose your doctor concludes that you have dementia, probably of Alzheimer’s type? What then? Ask your doctor whether you’re a candidate for one of the medications now on the market. Ask about what else can be done. Ask about things you can safely do. Ask about activities that will help you exercise your brain and keep your abilities strong. If you do cross word puzzles and/or if you interact regularly with people who make you think deeply about things and/or if you otherwise challenge yourself mentally, you’re serving yourself well. Call the Alzheimer’s Association at 656-8448 and ask for literature and a support group. Follow their recommendations which will help you think and talk about what you want for the future. With these issues completed, allow yourself to take a deep breath and decide that you’re now going to do things that you enjoy. You’ve earned that right. And, that will probably help you think more clearly. |