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Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia?
Conditions & Treatments

Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia?

by Silverado
written by Silverado

We’ve all had it happen – forgetting a person’s name or not being able to find the right word. Maybe you miss an appointment or misplace the TV remote. Some memory loss is only natural with age, but the question is often asked – is this just normal aging, or is it the beginning of something bigger? Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia?
While minor memory loss is common with aging, it is not inevitable. Dementia, on the other hand, is generally a progressive condition originating in a specific disease or neurological disorder. Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia, while conditions such as Lewy body disease, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and others can also lead to memory loss.

So when should you be concerned?

Because the human brain is so complex and every person’s physiology is different, diagnosing dementia is not a simple task. Only a doctor can give a proper dementia diagnosis, but there are some definite signs that you may want to visit a medical professional with your concerns: Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia?

  • You have trouble handling multi-stepped or ongoing tasks.These generally manifest as financial difficulties – overdrafts, forgotten bills and other actions that involve a level of thinking things through. This applies to most kinds of complex planning, including travel or even cooking.
  • Forgetfulness interferes with your daily life.Forgetting a name or momentarily misplacing something is a hassle, but these happening more regularly and causing financial or interpersonal difficulties are reasons for concern.
  • You can’t seem to find the right words.While we often experience the frustration of having a word “on the tip of my tongue,” an increased frequency of this happening should be a warning sign. This is particularly true if it affects normal ability to communicate.
  • You experience problems retracing your steps.When we misplace our keys, phone or remote this is generally resolved by asking “where was I a few minutes/hours ago?” Since dementia often affects the short term memory first, a decline in memory involving recent things should merit a trip to the doctor.
  • You lose your sense of place and time.Not knowing where you are, how you got there or what day it is can be serious signs that a medical consultation is necessary.

It’s also important to listen to those closest to you if they voice concerns about forgetfulness or mention that you’ve asked the same question repeatedly. Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia?

Can you do anything about it?

While there is currently no cure for most types of dementia, research is showing that certain activities and lifestyle choices can help delay its onset or slow its progression. The Nexus at Silverado program in which residents in Silverado memory care communities participate is based on these findings. For more information on Nexus, click here.

Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia?

Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia? Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia? Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia? Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia? Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia? Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia? Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia? Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia? Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia? Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia?

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Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia?
Conditions & Treatments

Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia?

by Silverado
written by Silverado

We’ve all had it happen – forgetting a person’s name or not being able to find the right word. Maybe you miss an appointment or misplace the TV remote. Some memory loss is only natural with age, but the question is often asked – is this just normal aging, or is it the beginning of something bigger? Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia?
While minor memory loss is common with aging, it is not inevitable. Dementia, on the other hand, is generally a progressive condition originating in a specific disease or neurological disorder. Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia, while conditions such as Lewy body disease, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and others can also lead to memory loss.
So when should you be concerned? Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia?
Because the human brain is so complex and every person’s physiology is different, diagnosing dementia is not a simple task. Only a doctor can give a proper dementia diagnosis, but there are some definite signs that you may want to visit a medical professional with your concerns:

  • You have trouble handling multi-stepped or ongoing tasks.These generally manifest as financial difficulties – overdrafts, forgotten bills and other actions that involve a level of thinking things through. This applies to most kinds of complex planning, including travel or even cooking.
  • Forgetfulness interferes with your daily life.Forgetting a name or momentarily misplacing something is a hassle, but these happening more regularly and causing financial or interpersonal difficulties are reasons for concern.
  • You can’t seem to find the right words.While we often experience the frustration of having a word “on the tip of my tongue,” an increased frequency of this happening should be a warning sign. This is particularly true if it affects normal ability to communicate.
  • You experience problems retracing your steps.When we misplace our keys, phone or remote this is generally resolved by asking “where was I a few minutes/hours ago?” Since dementia often affects the short term memory first, a decline in memory involving recent things should merit a trip to the doctor.
  • You lose your sense of place and time.Not knowing where you are, how you got there or what day it is can be serious signs that a medical consultation is necessary.

It’s also important to listen to those closest to you if they voice concerns about forgetfulness or mention that you’ve asked the same question repeatedly.
Can you do anything about it?
While there is currently no cure for most types of dementia, research is showing that certain activities and lifestyle choices can help delay its onset or slow its progression. The Nexus at Silverado program in which residents in Silverado memory care communities participate is based on these findings. For more information on Nexus, click here.

Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia?

Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia? Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia? Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia? Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia? Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia? Is it Normal Memory Loss or Dementia?

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Brain Exercises to Simplify Life
Health Tips

Brain Exercises to Simplify Life

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

 
Despite the wisdom that has been circulating for centuries, too many of us
fail to heed the call to be satisfied with the simple life. We don’t explore
the depth of Ranier Maria Rilke’s observation: “I trust all joy.” With these
four simple words, he gave us a formula for simple living. If you were to pass along three or four words of wisdom to the next generation, what words would you choose? Brain Exercises to Simplify Life

ZIPF-IFY THIS

George Kingsley Zipf was an American linguist who created an empirical formula related to the frequency of spoken words. In its simplest application, the law illustrates Zip’s belief that neither readers nor listeners want to expend more energy than necessary to reach an understanding of verbal import.
In this wired world of ours, the average person is exposed to 34 gigabytes of content and 100,000 words of information each day. Clearly, the need to find ways to streamline output and condense input is imperative. This is where Zipf comes in. Brain Exercises to Simplify Life

REMEMBER THIS

Einstein said, “Make things as simple as possible but not simpler.” Perhaps the best example of this can be found in the words of statistician and Quality guru, Dr. W. Edwards Deming. He made the study of work procedures his life work and has taught hundreds of thousands, including those in war-torn Japan, how to streamline work without sacrificing the quality of that work. He boiled down hisinsights into a significant statement about the nature of work itself: “All work is process and all processes can be improved.”
Again, if you were asked to pass along words of wisdom regarding how to make work simpler. And, if you are retired, what advice would you give about making life itself simpler? Translate your knowledge into simplicity, simplicity on the other side of complexity.

ABE WAS HONEST, AND CONCISE

Abraham Lincoln, in defining democracy, used 20 words, all of them but 4 of them monosyllables: “As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy.”
The Gettysburg address, one of the most revered speeches in all of American history, has a mere 271 words—sufficient for healing a war-raved nation and espousing the values of equality. The Lord’s Prayer has 66 words. Contrast this with H.R. 3962, better known as the Affordable Health Care for America Act, which has 1990—pages, not words. To be sure, legal matters require detailed explanations. But pity the poor reader who has to read all of that. Health care may not be affordable, but not necessarily easy to comprehend.

EXECUTIVES VALUE SIMPLICITY, TOO

Facebook’s COO and Lean In author Sheryl Sandberg takes a spiral-bound notebook with her into meetings. When every item on the meeting list-pagehas been handled, she will conclude the meeting—even if only ten minutes have elapsed in a meeting scheduled for an hour. Then there are the high- powered executives who will not meet if you cannot state your purpose on the back of your business card. Along these lines, the popularity of TED talks is directly related to the length of those talks—some only a few minutes long, but none more than 18 minutes in length.
Consider, too, the six-word memoir, prompted by Ernest Hemingway’s reputed response to a challenge to write a six-word short story. His poignant response was “For sale; baby shoes, never worn.” A decade ago, Smith magazine asked for six- word submissions that sum up a life or provide a life-learning. What six words would you choose to express what you have learned about life so far? Try the exercise with other words as well, words like “friendship” or “work” or “happiness.”

EXERCISE YOUR SIMPLE SKILLS

To develop the Zipfean approach to verbal economy, just think of the names of popular sports teams and ask yourself how different references to them would be if excessively verbose names were used.) Some of these current and former team names are more challenging than others. For them, you may wish to have a dictionary ready.

Can you name the team?

1- Metallic missiles from a paternal patriot
2- Dollars from the malt metropolis
3- Pathway pyromaniacs from a left-sided land
4- Hoosier equine leaders
5- Aqueous-mass types from a celestial city
6- New, soft-fabric, marine containers
7- Avian resurrection and heliacal essences
8- Scrapes and the focus of a Sinatran ode
9- Bovine creatures from the Hawk’s domicile
10- Battlers from an auriferous state
11- Equine goads for a canonized Anthony
12- Nonconformists from a cowboy’s city
3- Barber’s tool from a city of no deviltry
14- Mineral chunks from an altitudinous location
15- Angry apiarians from a sweet but hushed appellation
16- Birds of prey in a peachy-state city
17- Druids from a leguminous land
18- Gold Rush town and royalty figures
19- A number of trombones from a metropolis of “bro-mances”
20- Motor City cylinders
21- Grover’s courtly horsemen
22- Sound-breaking players from a place of precipitation
23- Marsalis music from a state known for its park city
24- Torridness from city known for its southerly beaches
25- A beverage belonging to Minnie plus sylvan, lupine creatures
26- Fireworks from an oily city
27- Sunshine state city using legerdemain
28- Prehistoric figures from “Hollywood North”
29- Ursi horribili from the Gateway to the Pacific
30-A long-beaked water bird in a place where easy is big

FIGHT DEMENTIA WHILE HAVING FUN

Brain challenges, such as those above, are not only worthwhile ways to spend time, they will also keep you mentally fit. Kailash Satyarthi, Novel Peace Prize recipient and Indian children’s rights activist, maintains that “childhood means simplicity.” If you wish to keep your youthful approach to life, find ways to simplify your life. You will have an endless opportunity to do so if you take samples from long-winded speakers and writers and apply Zipf’s Law.
 
Sports Teams Answers

  1. Washington Bullets
  2. Milwaukee Bucks
  3. Portland Trailblazers
  4. Indiana Pacers
  5. Los Angeles Lakers
  6. New Jersey Nets
  7. Phoenix Suns
  8. New York Knicks
  9. Chicago Bulls
  10. Golden State Warriors
  11. San Antonio Spurs
  12. Dallas Mavericks
  13. LA Clippers
  14. Denver Nuggets
  15. Charlotte Hornets
  16. Atlanta Hawks
  17. Boston Celtics
  18. Sacramento Kings
  19. Philadelphia 76ers
  20. Detroit Pistons
  21. Cleveland Cavaliers
  22. Seattle Supersonics
  23. Utah Jazz
  24. Miami Heat
  25. Minnesota Timberwolves
  26. Houston Rockets
  27. Orlando Magic
  28. Toronto Raptors
  29. Vancouver Grizzlies
  30. New Orleans Pelicans

– – – –
By Marlene Caroselli
This article is excerpted from Applying Mr. Einstein: 365+ Einstein-Inspired Brain Boosts. Her 62ndbook, Applying Mr. Einsteinwill be released by HRD Press later this year. You can reach the author at msmccpd@gmail.com.

Brain Exercises to Simplify Life

Brain Exercises to Simplify Life Brain Exercises to Simplify Life Brain Exercises to Simplify Life Brain Exercises to Simplify Life Brain Exercises to Simplify Life Brain Exercises to Simplify Life Brain Exercises to Simplify Life Brain Exercises to Simplify Life Brain Exercises to Simplify Life Brain Exercises to Simplify Life Brain Exercises to Simplify Life

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Memory Loss or Senior Moment?
Conditions & Treatments

Memory Loss or Senior Moment?

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

When Your Loved One is Increasingly Forgetful: Is It Memory Loss or Just a Senior Moment?

As we become increasingly aware of different forms of dementia, e.g. Alzheimer’s, it can be very worrying when our loved ones start to forget things. However, some forms of memory loss are more common the older you get, and aren’t necessarily an indicator that it’s something more sinister. Therefore, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the warning signs of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, so you can be aware of the changes in your loved one and when you might need to seek help. Memory Loss or Senior Moment?
Memory loss is one of the most common forms of dementia, but there are also other symptoms to look out for. We take a look at these below so you know when you might need to call a doctor or look for help with your loved one’s care (e.g. specialist homes like ParcProvence.com). Memory Loss or Senior Moment?
Their Daily Life is Being Disrupted by Memory Loss
One of the first warning signs of dementia is memory loss, especially when they’re forgetting new pieces of information. It may also include forgetting important events or dates, asking about the same thing repeatedly and becoming increasingly reliant on memory aids or family members for things they used to be able to carry out themselves. Memory Loss or Senior Moment?
However, a typical age-related change is if they sometimes forget appointments or names, but they do remember them after a short while.
They’re Struggling to Solve Problems or Plan Things
Sometimes, dementia sufferers will start to struggle when they’re trying to follow a plan or they’re working with numbers. For example, they may struggle to keep on top of their monthly bills or following a recipe. You may also find they have difficulty concentrating, taking a lot longer to do something they might have done with ease before.
However, a typical age-related change is if they make the odd error when they’re following a plan or balancing their checkbook.
They’re Finding it Difficult to Do Familiar Tasks
People with dementia often start to struggle to carry out daily tasks they’re familiar with. For example, they may struggle to manage a budget, may have difficult driving to a well-known location or they may forget the rules of their favorite game.
However, a typical age-related change is occasionally needing assistance recording their favorite TV show or using the settings on their microwave.
They’re Getting Confused with Places or Times
You may find your loved one starts to lose track of time, seasons and dates. They may also show signs of being unable to understand something if it isn’t happening straight away. Sometimes, they may forget how they got somewhere or where they are. Memory Loss or Senior Moment?
However, a typical age-related change is when they forget the day of the week but remember it a bit later.
They’re Unable to Understand Spatial Relationships or Visual Images
For some, Alzheimer’s can affect their vision. For example, they may have difficulty determining contrast or color, juggling distances or reading, which may cause problems when they’re driving.
However, a typical age-related change is vision problems that are related to their eyes deteriorating or other issues, e.g. cataracts.
They’re Showings Signs of New Problems with Writing or Speaking
People with dementia may struggle to join in with conversations, repeating themselves or stopping what they’re saying in the middle of a conversation because they’ve forgotten what they’re talking about. They may also struggle to find the right word to describe something or call things the wrong name (e.g. using “hand-clock” to describe a watch).
However, a typical age-related change is when they, on occasion, struggle to find the right word to describe something.
They’re Misplacing Things and Forget Where They’ve Been
When someone’s suffering from dementia they may put items in unusual places. This may lead to them losing things and them being unable to retrace their steps to find them. Sometimes, this may lead to them accusing others of stealing their things, which may increase in frequency as their dementia worsens.
However, a typical age-related change is when they lose things from time to time and can’t remember where they put them.
They’re Judgement has Decreased or has Become Poor
People with Alzheimer’s may change in how they make decisions or judgments. For example, when they’re dealing with money they may make poor judgments, giving large amounts to people they shouldn’t, e.g. cold callers. They may also spend less time keeping themselves clean.
However, a typical age-related change is when they make a bad decision every now and again.
These are just some of the early warning signs that your loved one could be suffering from a form of dementia. If you recognize any of these symptoms in them or you’re concerned, you should consult a doctor or health professional immediately.
By Oscar Hamilton
Oscar Hamilton works at a GP surgery and is always going the extra mile to help patients, which he is now extending to an online audience with his useful and informative articles. Memory Loss or Senior Moment?

Memory Loss or Senior Moment?

Memory Loss or Senior Moment? Memory Loss or Senior Moment? Memory Loss or Senior Moment? Memory Loss or Senior Moment?

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Caregiving

More to Dementia than Memory Loss

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

More to Dementia than Memory LossFamily
Dear Mary, The doctor says my mother has dementia. I understand that the dementia makes her forgetful, which is why I moved her in with me, my wife and children. But she is constantly trying to get out of the house and says she wants to go home. Even in the middle of the night, she wanders all over the house. Would it help to post signs up at the doors reminding her that she is home? More to Dementia than Memory Loss
Dear Reader, Memory loss is only one aspect of dementia. Wandering is very common and can be caused by many factors.
Individuals with dementia wander when in an unfamiliar setting or when the setting is overwhelming. Constant noise, such as from a television left on, can be overstimulating and individuals may search for a safe, quiet area.
Persons with dementia are often searching for something, although they may not remember what they are searching for. They may be looking for the bathroom or for something to eat. Oftentimes, they wander because they are bored or because they are reacting to old memories, such as going to work or to the grocery store.
Wandering in itself is not necessarily bad, as long as the individual is in a safe environment. Ensure there are no safety hazards in the house (scatter rugs and extension cords she could trip over) and make sure the house is well lit. If you have stairs, put a gate at the top to prevent falling.

Make sure that she is unable to unlock the doors to go outside; you may need to put a deadbolt toward the top of the door. You can also add door knob safety covers on outside doors. Sometimes a dark-colored floor mat in front of the door will deter someone with dementia from venturing out.
In addition to living with her dementia, the move to your home has added to her confusion. Wanting to go home is also a common expression and a desire for safety and familiarity. Instead of correcting her and trying to orient her to the current living situation, go “home” with her by asking about her memories. What kinds of flowers did she grow? What was her favorite room?
Dear Mary, My father-in-law moved in with us after his wife died. He had been diagnosed with dementia within the past year but had been functioning quite well when his wife was the caregiver. Now, however, he seems to have lost interest in doing anything for himself, including bathing. That has become a big issue. His body odor is terrible and he wears the same clothes for a week or more. My husband is uncomfortable with the whole situation, and I just don’t know how to deal with it.
Dear Reader, The loss of you father’s-in-law wife and his home may be contributing to depression, in addition to his diagnosis of dementia. Please let his physician know what behaviors you are noticing so a determination can be made if medication may help him through this tough time.
Bathing often becomes an issue of individuals living with dementia. While many physicians recommend older adults shower or bathe at least once a week to reduce the risk of infections, there are many different avenues we can use to provide hygiene care. In your father’s-in-law situation, it might be helpful for your husband to encourage his father to bathe with your assistance behind the scenes.
Rather than make an issue out of bathing, be matter-of-fact in the presentation — “It’s Friday, Dad. Let’s wash up before we go get pizza.” Make sure the bathroom is warm and is ready with towels, soap, and water already at the right temperature. Have his clean clothes ready. If your father-in-law is able to wash himself, allow for privacy. Follow up this routine with positive reinforcement.
I recently spoke with another caregiver who experienced a similar situation. She hired a home care worker who was able to get her father into a hygiene routine with very little resistance. If this is a situation that neither you nor your husband are comfortable to tackle, you may want to look into hiring some in-home assistance.
Mary Chaput at the Department of Aging and Disabilities in Annapolis, MD

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