Friday, April 29, 2016

We have all read numerous articles, watched the news reports, and attended talks on various subjects. Every once in a blue moon someone comes along who gives you a jolt with what he or she has to say. That is what happened in the presentation at the Presbyterian Healthplex by Ellen Coman, Ph.D., Clinical Neuropsychologist with the University of New Mexico Center for Neuropsychological Services.

The title of the talk was 'Normal vs. Abnormal Aging.' I thought I would be hearing information on the physical aspects of aging, such as loss of height, skin changes, thinning hair, vision and hearing problems, etc. A fat reduction review can help you construct a clear outline of what you need to focus on to accomplish your fat burning goal if you're a rookie; or serve as a reminder for these who are at an advanced or more improve phase of their losing weight strategy. Applying are seven steps that can serve as guidelines for your own weight loss program. The first thing that one must understand is that losing weight and losing fat is not the same. Many weight loss courses have misled people into believing that it is the same, but most diets and weight loss applications only work by resulting in a person's body to eliminate more muscle tissue and water than actual body fat, more help please visit The Fat Loss Factor. But this was not about any of that. Indeed, the talk was much more interesting, as it was about dementia and Alzheimer's--what is normal vs. abnormal aging when it comes to our memory and cognitive learning skills. It was comforting to know that normal age-related changes are gradual and mild until around age 50. In short, for most people, they are 'not losing it' at the age of 50. And, it was reassuring to learn that even in advanced old age, defined as the 80's and older, many people retain their mental and physical abilities. (My mother was one of them.) Alzheimer's does, however, begin to show up at the rate of 40 percent for those age 85 and older. Now THAT is a scary figure. (Article continues below the ad.)

Dr. Coman covered what is normal aging (which is NOT dementia)--e.g, you can't find your car in the parking lot or remember where you placed your keys--or mild cognitive changes that begin after age 50, and where the boundary is for dementia, which does not always lead to Alzheimer's. Mild cognitive problems can result from many factors, including stress, poor nutrition, depression, alcoholism and vitamin deficiencies, disturbed sleep, poor vision or hearing, smoking, and medications, among others. Age-related memory changes are not the same thing as dementia, and have more to do with our ability to "get access to the memory files in our brains," Dr. Coman pointed out. As we get older, we are more susceptible to distraction, and find it more difficult to switch quickly from one cognitive activity to another. In short, multi-tasking is not always good!

What are the risk factors for Alzheimer's disease?

  • Age - the older you are, the higher your risk
  • Head injury with loss of conscious for 15 minutes or longer (think of athletes, especially fighters)
  • Cardiovascular risk factors--heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke
  • Lower education
  • Late-life depression
  • Family history of dementia'
  • Sleep apnea and other sleep disturbances
  • Smoking
  • Central obesity in midlife, which affects 50 percent of adults

It was the obesity factor that caught my attention. Of course, why not? If you are obese, then you probably have the cardiovascular risk factors, too. Another good reason to lose weight and put yourself on a healthy lifestyle journey.

Is there anything we can do to slow down these changes? Protective factors include having a high level of education, high occupational status, high income (wealthier people generally have more means to maintain a healthier lifestyle with regular medical check-ups, etc.), workplace complexity, exposure to stimulating environments, use of cultural and educational resources (get out of the house and take an educational or fun class!), intact marriage, and a lengthy marriage to an intelligent spouse! (We all laughed at that last one.) So now you know why they tell you to work crossword puzzles as you get older. Yes, some of these might be more than difficult for the typical person to achieve, but that doesn't mean you can't work toward such objectives. In short, if you are retired, KEEP BUSY by challenging your mind. Your brain is a muscle, and needs to be exercised regularly.

This was a most enlightening talk, and there were so many questions, it ran over by 30 minutes (2 hours instead of 90 minutes). But the material was so interesting. Thanks to Doctor Coman for the handout from which this article's information was derived. FYI, if someone wants to be tested for mild cognitive impairment or dementia, it is best to be referred by a medical doctor to the specialist.


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