Questions about testing, memory loss, cognitive impairment, dementia and Alzheimer's along with helpful resources.
- Exercise regularly: Regular exercise helps brain health by improving cognitive function, reducing the risk of dementia, and growing new brain cells.
- Eat a healthy diet: Eating fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats can lower the risk of cognitive decline and promote brain health.
- Keep your brain active: Read, play games, or learn a new skill to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and improve brain health.
- Manage chronic conditions: Control high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease to prevent cognitive decline.
- Get enough sleep: Adequate sleep is important for brain health, as it helps with memory and grows new brain cells.
- Reduce stress: High levels of stress can hurt brain health, so try relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga.
- Stay social: Being social can help brain health and reduce cognitive decline. Stay in touch with friends and family and participate in social activities.
- Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) means having some minimal problems with thinking that someone might notice, but that don't affect their daily life too much. People with MCI may have a higher chance of getting dementia, like Alzheimer's disease, but not everyone with MCI will get dementia.
- Dementia means having much bigger problems with thinking that someone and their family will notice, and that make daily life much harder. It can also affect behavior and emotions. The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer's disease, but there are other types too, like vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia.
Memory loss can happen for many reasons, and some causes are temporary while others are permanent or get worse over time. If someone has memory problems or is having trouble thinking, doctors will consider several conditions, such as:
- Normal aging
- Medication side effect, such as anticholinergics, opiates
- Head injury/Traumatic brain injury
- Stress and anxiety
- Alcohol and drug use
- Sleep disturbance
- Nutritional deficiencies, such as Vitamin B12, folic acid, or thiamine
- Hearing and vision loss
- Endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism
- Normal pressure hydrocephalus
- Brain tumors
- Recurrent infections, such as urinary tract infections
- Chronic infections such as HIV/AIDS
- Stroke
- Neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease or Lewy Body disease
- Alzheimer's disease is a neurological disorder that gets worse over time and that affects thinking and reasoning abilities. It is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for up to 70% of all cases.
- The disease is defined by the presence of abnormal protein deposits in the brain, including amyloid plaques and tau tangles, which disrupt normal brain function and lead to the death of brain cells.
- Symptoms start slowly and get worse over time, and include memory loss, trouble with thinking and language, and changes in mood or behavior. As it gets worse, people may need more help with basic tasks like eating and getting dressed. There's no cure, but medicines and lifestyle changes like exercise and a healthy diet can help manage symptoms and make life better.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, it's important to understand the following things:
- Dementia gets worse over time: Dementia is a condition that affects memory, thinking, and behavior and usually gets worse as time goes on.
- It's not a normal part of aging: Dementia is not a normal part of getting older and is caused by different health problems, like Alzheimer's disease, stroke, or Parkinson's disease.
- Early treatment is crucial: Detecting and treating dementia early can help slow its progression and improve the person's quality of life.
- Communication may be tough: Dementia can make it challenging for people to communicate their needs and feelings. Being patient and understanding is essential.
- Safety is a top priority: As dementia gets worse, it can be hard for people to take care of themselves. It's important to take steps to keep them safe.
- Support is available: There are many resources for people with dementia and their families, like support groups, home care services, and respite care.
- Caregivers need help too: Taking care of someone with dementia can be tough and tiring. Caregivers should take care of themselves and ask for help when needed.
- Advance planning is essential: Planning early for legal and financial matters can help make sure that the person's wishes are followed as the disease progresses.