The older we get, the more we seem to forget things, ranging from where we left our car keys to people's names. As these forgetful incidents increase in frequency, many of us may start to worry that we are losing our minds. These concerns are warranted, in large measure, because the essence of who we are is locked in our memories. But how serious are they? What are the facts about aging and memory? How can we keep our minds and memories fit? When should we really start worrying?
Below is some useful information to help you identify and understand the differences between ways the aging process can affect our memories and other cognitive functions.
Bear in mind that no two people age the same way. Some may experience an age-related decline in cognitive functions in early adulthood, while others may continue to function at very high levels well into later life.
As a caregiver, you need to be alert to changes in your elder's behavior, mental abilities and memory in order to identify a need for medical or psychological intervention. The differences may be subtle, but if your elder is having problems in these areas you should strongly encourage her to schedule an appointment and a complete physical examination with her doctor.
Some increased forgetfulness is common as we grow older, as is slowed physical movement. The most frequent declines are found in:
Working or short-term memory
Response time
Working memory, which is used to remember such things as names, phone numbers, directions, etc. has limited capacity and, like most things, deteriorates if it is not exercised regularly. Our long-term memory has greater capacity and therefore its deterioration is much less noticeable.
Response time describes the time it takes to process information and retrieve it from our memories. Research has shown that people over the age of 60, on average, take one and a half times longer to retrieve or process information than people in their 20s. Modest declines usually begin once people reach their 60s, accelerate in their 70s, and become profound in their 80s.
People with a higher level of education and those who are mentally and physically active are more likely to maintain mental sharpness as they age.
Staying mentally fit
Many of us believe that our memory skills will deteriorate as we grow older. This isn't necessarily true. In the absence of disease, our cognitive abilities and our memories can remain relatively intact as we age.
According to The MacArthur Foundation Study on Successful Aging, "...about half of all mental loss in aging can be attributed to genes. The other half is related to lifestyle and environment. In other words, there's a lot a person can do to keep her mind sharp with age." For example, it has been proven that it is important to:
Exercise regularly - to keep the blood flowing
Eat healthy - to provide your mind with the nutrients that it requires
Stay mentally active and engaged through activities such as classes, reading, travel, crossword puzzles, etc. - the old adage, "If you don't use it, you lose it," applies to your mind as well as your body.
Maintain social contacts and a good support system
Increase your sense of self-efficacy and belief in yourself
Dementia and Alzheimer's
Dementia is the medical term for a group of symptoms that describes temporary or permanent loss of cognitive or intellectual function, including memory. Dementia is not a normal part of the aging process. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer's disease, a progressive and irreversible decline in mental functioning. As the disease progresses, individuals with Alzheimer's experience a loss of memory and gradually lose their capacity to reason, communicate, and carry out the simple tasks of daily life.
It is vital, as a caregiver, to take your elder to her physician as soon as possible if either of you notice any sudden or progressive changes in memory or other cognitive functioning.
Although lost brain cells cannot be replaced, there are a number of steps you and your elderly parent can take to slow further loss and make the best of the existing capabilities.
Source :http://www.eldercare.com
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
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