Health First Memory Disorder Clinic: Don’t Forget, Memory Loss Is Not Always Inevitable – or Irreversible

Memory loss can be diagnosed and reversed

At Health First’s Memory Disorder Clinic, patients come to understand there’s a great deal within their control, says Medical Director Visa Srinivasan, MD.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Forgot your keys, or can’t recall why you came into a room? We’ve all experienced it. And occasional forgetfulness is normal as we age.

People who are caring for someone with dementia or know someone with dementia will worry about their own memory lapses and worry if they are starting to have dementia.

It is important to differentiate changes in memory that happen with normal aging versus dementia.

With age, we may take a longer time to do a task or have a harder time multitasking, but we are still able to do the tasks, and it does not interfere with our daily function.

Dementia is a progressively worsening disease of the brain and causes symptoms including poor short-term memory, poor judgment, problems with language and understanding, confusion, and changes in mood and behavior.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia in older individuals. But there are other causes of dementia including vascular dementia that’s due to complications from longstanding, uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes, strokes and other conditions.

Memory loss can be diagnosed and reversed!

First, there are many causes of memory loss, and it’s not always dementia. Here are a few of the treatable causes of memory loss:

■ Drugs. Some over-the-counter sleep aids and prescription sleep aids that may adversely affect memory. Some drugs for overactive bladder may slow down memory. The Memory Disorder Clinic reviews medications in order to make drug recommendations with memory in mind.
■ Sleep Apnea. Millions of Americans suffer from sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing is interrupted or ceases. Signs include snoring and waking feeling unrefreshed, and it may cause low oxygenation to the brain causing memory loss. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent memory loss and, just as importantly, prevent cardiac complications.
■ Uncontrolled Diabetes. Diabetics are twice at risk for dementia than non-diabetics. When blood sugar is very high or drops too low, memory is affected. Conversely, good control of diabetes can delay memory loss.
■ Thyroid Abnormalities. The thyroid is a gland that produces hormones that influence blood pressure, body temperature and metabolism. An abnormal thyroid may cause changes in memory that can be treated.
■ Vitamin Deficiency. The vitamin B-12, specifically, may cause memory loss. A simple blood test can measure B-12 levels, and B-12 can be replaced.
■ Mental Health. Depression is a risk factor for dementia. Early diagnosis and treatment may improve both mood and memory.

It’s important to know that hearing loss is also associated with increased risk for dementia. If hearing loss is treated adequately, it may improve memory.

Tips to prevent or delay memory loss

There are things we can do today to prevent or delay memory loss, beginning with our physical health.

■ Exercise. Dr. Srinivasan tells her patients this: “What’s good for the heart is good for the brain.” Exercise is a big part of that. “I make sure I walk at least 7,000 or 10,000 steps a day,” she says. “During that time, I listen to music or talk to my friends. That’s my way of destressing”.(Key to heart – and brain–health is keeping weight, blood sugar and cholesterol in check. Don’t smoke, and cut down on alcohol.)
■ Cognitive Stimulation. Playing a musical instrument, reading a book, playing a game and doing puzzles are all good examples of healthy cognitive stimulation. Because it’s true what they say – “If you use your brain, it’s going to work better. If you don’t use it, you lose it,” Dr. Srinivasan says. “The trick is to learn new skills and do a variety of things rather than just doing the same activity daily.”
■ Stay Engaged. Social interaction is important at any age – it’s no less so for all of us as we age, especially those of us who live alone. Belonging to a club, church or social group, volunteering and other activities are ways to keep the brain young and healthy.
■ A Healthy Diet. A well-balanced diet rich in green vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, fish (salmon), complex carbohydrates and protein – one that’s low in processed foods – is good for the brain and heart. Dr. Srinivasan says she can tell a lot about someone’s brain health by looking at their grocery cart. “If I see someone with a lot of colorful fruits and vegetables in their cart, I know their brain is going to look much better than someone with a lot of saturated fats and carbohydrate-laden processed foods.”
■ Good, Restful Sleep. For brain functioning, sleep is particularly important. “In sleep, the brain washes away toxins and harmful proteins which have been postulated to cause dementia. When people don’t sleep and rest well, they have difficulty with focus, attention and memory the next day,” Dr. Srinivasan says. (In patients with sleep apnea, this happens night after night and may cause them to have low oxygenation to the brain resulting in poor memory. Fortunately, sleep apnea can be treated.)

The Take-home Message

Dr. Srinivasan says there are many causes of memory loss that can be treated. Troubling loss of memory is not a simple fact of aging, and there are many things one can do today to prevent memory loss in the future.

To find out more and inquire whether an appointment at the Memory Disorder Clinic at Health First’s Aging Services is the right place for you or a loved one, visit HF.org/aging.

Similar Stories