Published by Divvie Esterhuizen at May 6, 2018

Memory Lapses

Older adults often complain about forgetfulness or memory lapses. You are talking to a friend about a book you read recently, when suddenly you realise you can’t remember the title of the book. You want to fetch something from your room, but when you get there you wonder what you went there for.

Age related memory lapses are not the same thing as Dementia though. As you grow older you will experience some changes in memory. They are generally manageable and you are still able to work, live independently and enjoy your social life.

Know the difference between age related forgetfulness and the memory impairment (and other symptoms) associated with Dementia.

Below are a few examples:

Normal age related memory and functioning	Dementia related memory and functioning
Normal cognitive functioning and independent activities of daily living	Decline in cognitive functioning and dependent for activities of daily living
Recent memory in tact	Unable to remember recent events and information
Function independently	Asking the same question or repeating the same story over and over
Describe incidents of forgetfulness, but can recall forgetfulness	Unable to recall forgetfulness though others can
Pursue normal activities of daily living, for example prepare a meal and continue work and career	Unable to carry out activities of daily living for example unable to prepare a meal, make tea
Occasional word finding difficulties, but still able to follow a conversation	Frequent word finding difficulties
Normal performance on cognitive testing	Unable to hold a conversation and follow a conversation
Will not get lost in familiar places	Gets confused about time, people and places. Gets lost in familiar places
Reasoning is still intact	Reasoning and Judgement is seriously affected
Personal care unaffected	Neglect personal hygiene, nutrition and safety
Socialise: maintains social skills and enjoys socialisation	Loss of interest in socialisation, withdraws from others and unable to pursue normal social activities

7 changes to make today

What is good for the heart is good for the brain!

1. LOOK AFTER YOUR HEART

Giving up smoking can significantly reduce your risk of developing dementia.
It is also recommended to limit alcohol consumption to two standard drinks on each drinking occasion.
Go for regular medical check-ups for high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes

2. FOLLOW A HEALTHY DIET

Our bodies and especially our brain need a healthy balanced diet to keep it functioning properly.
Eating lots of fatty and processed foods increases our risk of heart disease.
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and drink green tea: these foods contain antioxidants in abundance. Antioxidants can keep your brain cells from “rusting.”
Foods rich in omega-3 fats (such as salmon, tuna, walnuts, and flaxseed) are good for your brain and memory.
Eating too many calories can increase your risk of developing memory loss or cognitive impairment.

3. BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE

Thirty minutes of gentle exercise such as brisk walking, five days a week is all you need to improve your health.
Walking clears your mind.
Being physically active can help to reduce the risk of dementia.
Leading an active lifestyle can help control your blood pressure and weight.

4. CHALLENGE YOUR BRAIN

Challenge your brain with new activities to counter the effects of Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
Challenging your brain help build new brain cells and strengthen connections between them.
Develop some great new skills such as a new language, a new hobby or sport.
Try these great mind stretching activities: reading, crosswords, puzzles, and chess.

5. ENJOY SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Social engagement stimulates your brain reserves and help to reduce the risk of developing Dementia.
Make time for friends and family
Quality face-to-face social interaction can greatly reduce stress and is powerful medicine for the brain.
Combine your social activities with physical exercise through sport, social clubs or join a senior centre.

6. MANAGE STRESS

Cortisol, the stress hormone, damages the brain over time and can lead to memory problems.
Practice relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, exercise and deep breathing.
When you’re stressed out you’re more likely to suffer memory lapses and have trouble learning or concentrating. If an anxious thought or worry comes into your head during the day, make a brief note of it. Remind yourself that you’ll have time to think about it later, so there’s no need to worry about it right now.
Being active is proven to make us feel good.

7. GET PLENTY OF SLEEP

Sleep is necessary for the process of forming and storing new memories so you can retrieve them later.
Sleep deprivation reduces the growth of new neurons in the hippocampus and causes problems with memory, concentration and decision-making. It can even lead to depression—another memory killer.

Get in touch to find out more.

Memory Lapses

7 changes to make today

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