Memory conditions like Alzheimer’s, dementia or others caused by trauma or disease are difficult for patients and caregivers alike and can include struggles with personal care, speaking or ability to reason.
According to geriatrician Dr. Morgan Sauer, it’s never too early to learn how to properly care for your memory health.
“Living a healthy lifestyle and learning the habits that lead to a healthy lifestyle start in childhood and should be continuously developed throughout life,” says Sauer, who specializes in dementia and prevention at Baptist Health.
Protecting the head from impact, especially at younger ages, is very important, as more data is pointing toward serious consequences from repeated head strikes and concussions during sports like boxing, football and soccer.
In addition, Sauer says, “It is important to see your health care provider as there are other conditions like low thyroid, depression or low vitamin B12 which can cause memory loss that is reversible. It is important to address these events quickly to restore memory back to normal.”
Discussing all medication, including over-the-counter medications, with your physician and your pharmacist is also critical. Many medications can cause memory loss and even increase the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia if used for longer periods of time.
“Allergy medicines, anxiety medications and bladder medications are notorious for this,” Sauer says.
Below, Sauer weighs in on what’s important when it comes to memory health.
What do Soirée readers need to know about memory health?
MS: Memory health is a life-long journey, just like caring for the rest of the body. It is important to exercise the brain and achieve the highest amount of education possible. It is important to develop healthy eating habits that are very high in fruits and vegetables for the duration of life. Minimizing alcohol consumption is also recommended.
Doing cardio exercise is important, but should be combined with resistance exercise to help control blood sugar and blood pressure throughout the lifetime.
What are some common misconceptions about dementia?
MS: Dementia is not an infection. It is not a moral failure or flaw. Sadly, it is a degenerative process that can develop in anyone as they age.
What is the best prevention for memory loss for women?
MS: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle starting in childhood and the teenage years is important. Avoid large amounts of alcohol intake, processed foods and any form of nicotine, including vaping and tobacco. It is important to do life-long continuous learning to keep the brain active as well as exercise to keep the body active.
Heart and cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women. The same risk factors for heart disease are risk factors later in life for dementia.
How can readers identify memory decline?
MS: Watch for people having problems with short-term memory loss such as repeating themselves frequently or losing abilities they once did well, like paying bills or following recipes. Also watch for people having to use reminder systems to help them be able to multitask when they did not have this problem previously.
Who should I see if I think I may be starting to see signs of memory decline?
MS: It is important to see a physician who is well-versed in memory disorders. Typically, geriatricians are excellent at diagnosing and comprehensively treating memory loss and dementia syndromes. Neurologists also diagnose a lot of dementia.
Speak with physicians highly skilled in dementia and memory loss before starting a new treatment for Alzheimer’s that costs $30,000 per year (with a major large-scale study showing no benefit and a summation of all studies that shows no benefit either). This treatment alone has led to the largest increase in Medicare Part B premiums for all Medicare recipients.
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