“I think I’m losing my mind!” That‘s a common phrase we often say in this 24/7 stressful world of ours. But when we start forgetting where we left our keys, our reading glasses or where we hide something (of course for safe keeping), we might fearfully suspect our failing memory is a sign that Alzheimer’s is setting in.
Memory Failings
Before jumping to any conclusions, it is important to know that memory failings by themselves are not evidence of Alzheimer’s. There are other possible explanations including –
- Side effect of medications
- Emotional distress due to physical loss or changes in lifestyle
- Clinical depression
- Long-term stress or trauma events
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Hardening of the arteries
- Thyroid conditions
- Audio or visual problems affecting processing of information
- Poor quality sleep; lack of sufficient sleep
While the possibility of dementia increases with aging, other debilitations appear along with a decline in memory. They may include problems communicating, maintaining attention span, being able to problem solve or issues with reasoning and judgment.
Related conditions that exacerbate dementia by interfering with smooth blood flow within the brain are
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- diabetes
- stroke
When Does It Become a Memory Problem?
What distinguishes Alzheimer’s is that it’s a debilitation brain disease that occurs in 60% to 80% of the dementia population.
The Alzheimer’s Association identifies 10 warning signs to watch for and they include —
- Memory changes
- Challenges in planning or solving problems
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks
- Confusion with time and place
- Trouble with visual images and spatial relationships
- New problems with speech or writing
- Misplacing things and unable to retrace steps
- Decreased and poor judgment
- Withdrawal from work or social activities
- Changes in mood and personality
You can click on their warning signs checklist at http://www.alz.org/national/documents/checklist_10signs.pdf
A good understanding of the stages of Alzheimer’s can be found at http://www.alzinfo.org/clinical-stages-of-alzheimers from theFisherCenter for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation
No one wants to dwell on the possibility of developing Alzheimer’s but the projected increase to 8 million women with Alzheimer’s by 2050 is a reality we all need to face. After all, time flies by quicker than we care to think.
Updated: Jan 14, 2012 version updated Jan. 8, 2018
Image: Pixabay CCO, Geralt 16435
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Oh my mother and I were discussing a book called “A Better Brain Solution” (I believe that is the title). It talked about assessing our brain function before the onset of dementia and memory loss. I’ve watched people suffer from Alzheimer’s and it isn’t pretty. I like the idea that we can help protect our brain by balancing nutrients and hormones, avoiding toxins and detoxing, reducing stress and adopting healthy lifestyle habits.
There’s still so much to learn about the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s. It makes sense from a health perspective to become more aware and take care of ourselves as our brains early on. Happy to see that you and your mother are into “A Better Brain Solution.”
Great list. My grandma had dementia. At 45 I had signs of dementia and started asking about when she showed signs. I happened across an article on the Benadryl my doctor told me I could take as often as I wanted to help me sleep. The article said it could cause short-term memory loss. I quit taking it and the dementia magically went away. We should all know more about side-effects and what we can do to prevent Alzheimer’s as well. Your list of things to look for is great.
Oh, your so right Cathy, There are a lot of medication that cause brain fog and longterm use can be a real detriment. Glad you got off the Benedryl.
What a relief, Joyce! It’s good to have the list of other things memory loss symptoms could be. For me, I experience symptoms of memory loss and related things as a result of cancer treatment side effects… that still affect me. I know we all hope and pray we don’t get Alzheimers or dementia. It’s such a terrible disease.
Tandy, yes chemotherapy can really play havoc with the brain. My husband is in treatment now, and I have to be very aware of things he does and does not remember. The statistics are not heartening, but be aware and taking positive brain health steps are important.
I;m glad you’ve shared information on this topic, Joyce. A few years back my Mom started becoming forgetful which had me worried and then her blood test revealed a thyroid deficiency. An adjustment of her medication and we’re back to normal..
Good point, Vatsala. The thyroid and other physical events can cause brain function. Lucky you and your Mom caught it early.
This one is close to my heart since my mother has alzheimers – which also increases with lack of proper nutrition, water and not being active enough or constantly learning as we age. Mom had lots of exercise as she was always outside doing something. I also learned that as we naturally lose levels of our hormones when we age, that can be a contributor to advancing alzheimers too – the hormones that affect the brain. Good thing to know is those can be naturally replaced once identified with saliva and blood test.
Yes, there are many things that can help to identify the deficits that are contributors. Staying active, hydrating with water and good nutrition can go a long way in slowing the process down. My mother passes with having light dementia and even then it required a lot to be a caregiver. Anytime you need someone to listen, I’m, there for you.
You are so right about how familiar that phrase is Joyce! Alzheimer’s is such a scary condition it’s no wonder everyone is a little paranoid about it. I find that when I have problems concentrating it’s nearly always because I’m sleep deprived. That doesn’t necessarily mean getting enough sleep, it also means the quality of sleep. It’s just another example of why self-care is so important. Thanks for bringing up this important topic!
Sleep has been discovered to be a big component – as you say quantity and quality are super important. If were are all going to be in this for the long run then sleep needs to be a primary life activity we engage in.
Scary stuff, why we must look after our health, eat alkaline, stay hydrated, exercise our bodies and our minds.
Having had a family member with Alzheimers very conscious of this. Such a sad state when they no longer know you
Happy new year and thank you xxx
When we see the deterioration of a loved one, it’s very hard. Thanks for bringing up a good point about alkalinity. Not everyone knows how important this is. Also, thanks for sharing your healthy habits.
WOW Joyce! That is a lot of women potentially facing having Alzheimer. I know for my husband, it’s a concern as his mother had early onset of Alzheimer when she passed away.
I also found it interesting that “related conditions that exacerbate dementia by interfering with smooth blood flow within the brain are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and stroke.” I suffer from high blood pressure and we both have high cholesterol.
This will definitely motivate us even more to continue to work on our diet and exercise.
Thanks for post.
Good for you and your husband, Claudette. We all need to stay on top of this and stay healthy. Many times, older people, especially if they have lost a mate, do not eat as well, and this can seriously exacerbate problems.
Thanks for the insightful post, Joyce! The stat about the increase in Alzheimer’s by 2050 is quite staggering. I’ve also heard, and personally believe, that all the exposure to electro magnetic frequencies (EMF’s), which we can no longer avoid in our world, are changing our brains in ways we still do not completely understand and creating many of the symptoms you mention as relating to dementia and Alzheimers. I had one well-versed science geek suggest that the increase in cases of hoarding are related to this as well and that these people are at high-risk for developing dementia and Alzheimers. It’s a bit scary to be stepping into this new world, where we do not know the full impact of technology on our bodies and our brains. I personally have experienced some memory failings when I have not had enough sleep. Sleep is such a big factor in so many of our health issues it seems. Lots of food for thought in this piece! Thanks!
Well said, Beverley. The EMF’s are a big issue that few people want to talk about. This is probably more serious than anything else. It’s been part of the research I’ve been doing, and it’s one reason why I don’t carry a smartphone and only use a tablet out in public when I absolutely have to.
Always a scary thought, Joyce, but equally important to know what to look out for. We all have memory lapses from time to time but, as you pointed out, they can be caused by many different things. Great to have a checklist to refer to instead of jumping to conclusions.
Yes, having a checklist helps. But, like the rest of us, we have to remember where we put it. Ha, Ha!