Tag: Memory

91-year old gymnast competes in Berlin
Some people are never too old to do handstands on the parallel bars and other knock-your-socks off gymnastics feats. Watch Johanna Quaas, a 91-year old gymnast, perform at a competition in Berlin. And, even if you are not feeling up to competing–how many of us ever do–try to find a way to exercise.

Take a bike ride, a trip up and down stairs, or a long walk. Exercise is good for your heart and your health! One study found that exercise is good for memory and attention, another that it reduces the likelihood of disability in older adults, another that it helps people with Alzheimer’s, and yet another that exercise reduces the likelihood of stroke.

If possible, find a health care buddy to exercise with you. Believe it or not, a buddy brings additional health benefits.

Here’s more from Just Care:
July 25, 2017
Common OTC drugs linked to cognitive impairment
Common over-the-counter (OTC) medicines used to treat colds and allergies, as well as sleep aids, are linked to cognitive impairment in older adults, including an increased risk of dementia.

It’s more than likely that the medicines, which are known as anticholinergic drugs, are in your medicine cabinet. Some common brand names are Benadryl (diphenhydramine), Dramamine (dimenhydrinate), and Dimetapp (dextromethorphan), a commonly used cough suppressant found in cold remedies.

Older types of antidepressants (tricyclic) and bupropion, better known as Wellbutrin as an antidepressant and Zyban as a smoking aid, are also anticholinergic agents. Other medications with known anticholinergic effects are sold OTC as sleep aids, and with a prescription to treat chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and hypertension.

Using brain scans, researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine found that people who took anticholinergic drugs had a lower metabolism and smaller brain sizes. The drugs work by blocking acetylcholine, a chemical known as a neurotransmitter that operates in the nervous system.

“Given all of the research evidence, physicians might want to reconsider anticholinergic medications if available when working with their older patients,” first author Shannon Risacher, PhD, assistant professor of radiology and imaging science, said in a statement. The study was published in JAMA Neurology in 2016.

The research involved 451 people, 60 of whom were taking at least one medication considered to have medium to high anticholinergic activity. Those taking the drugs didn’t do as well as older adults on memory based on cognitive tests, as well as other tests used to measure activities including verbal reasoning, planning and problem solving, which are known as executive functions.

This study is not the first to find a link between anticholinergic drugs and cognitive issues in older adults. In 2003, another Indiana University team found that meds with a significant anticholinergic effect can cause cognitive issues in as little as 60 days of continuous use. And drugs with a weaker effect could cause impairment within 90 days.

This post was first published in www.medshadow.org.

Here’s more from Just Care:
April 3, 2017
Lifestyle changes could help reduce risk of memory loss as we age
Some estimates suggest that as many as one in five people over 65 have mild cognitive impairments. When these impairments are caused by medication side effects or depression, they can be reversed with treatment, Dementia cannot be reversed, but certain behaviors might forestall its onset. A recent Mayo Clinic study finds that lifestyle changes could help reduce the risk of memory loss as we age. In addition to eating a healthy diet and exercising, participating in artistic activities could really help keep our minds from slipping.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic found that people who engage in artistic activities in middle and older age had a 73 percent lower risk of developing a mild cognitive impairment. People who engaged in crafts had a 45 percent lower risk. People who socialized had a 55 percent lower risk. And, believe it or not, people who used a computer had a 53 percent lower risk.

By contrast, researchers found that having high blood pressure or suffering from depression in middle age increased the risk of developing a mild cognitive impairment.

The researchers studied 256 people with an average age of 87, who had neither memory or thinking problems when the study began. People over 85 represent the fastest growing age group in the United States. The full study is available online in the journal Neurology.

Here are more ways to reduce risk of memory loss and improve your health:
- Improve your health with a buddy.
- A plant-based diet, with moderate amounts of fish and dairy has also been linked to a reduced risk of cognitive impairment.
- Research suggests that walkable communities are good for memory.
- In contrast, a Cochrane review of many studies found no cognitive improvement resulting from taking vitamin B6 supplements.
- New research reveals that increased Social Security income helps memory and mental function.
Visit www.eldercare.gov to find the area agency on aging (AAA) in the community. AAA’s can provide information on free and low-cost activity programs for adults 60 and older.
March 28, 2017
Exercise may help memory and attention
There has been considerable research to show that exercise can reduce the likelihood of disability in older adults, lower your risk of stroke and improve bone health. It’s good for your heart, your lungs and your muscles. Now, according to Stat News, research reveals that exercise may help memory and attention.

Exercise causes your muscles to release molecules that enter your brain. These molecules can possibly stimulate the brain to grow new neurons. And, some are suggesting that this could make you smarter.

We don’t begin to fully understand the effects of exercise on the brain. But, the data is showing that people with early dementia, for example, fare better through exercise. And, exercise offers clear benefits to memory for healthy people.

Wendy Suzuki, a New York University psychologist is looking at how running on a treadmill affects people’s consumption of oxygen. She has found benefits to their memory and attention. She has also run tests that reveal mood improvements from exercise for people with brain injuries.

Suzuki cautions that to improve brain function your exercise must be more strenuous than walking. But, you don’t have to run a marathon either. Suzuki suggests that moderate exercise a few times a week might just do the trick.

Here’s more from Just Care:
October 27, 2016
Coping strategies for people with dementia
In the final part of a four-part series on caregiving and dementia, Julie Potyraj, community manager for the online master of public health at The George Washington University, explores multiple coping strategies for people with dementia.

Dementia brings about an array of physical, cognitive, and emotional changes. Each person will find his or her own unique way of coping as the disease progresses through its various stages. Below are several types of coping strategies that can help people with dementia maintain a good quality of life for as long as possible.

Practical strategies. The cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia can make it difficult for a person to store and recall information. Memory problems can be addressed by using sticky notes, calendars, and other tools to remind the person of certain tasks like taking medication. Assistive technology devices like smartphones are also helpful. Establishing a regular routine can make it easier for a person with dementia to recall patterns of usual activity during the day.

Health strategies. Good nutrition can’t cure dementia, but it can lessen the intensity of some symptoms while contributing to an overall feeling of well-being. People with dementia should focus on eating whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and lean protein; limit sugar, salt, and saturated fat intake; and drink plenty of water. Regular exercise is also beneficial.

Emotional strategies. People with dementia often go through a grieving process in which they mourn the loss of the person they once were. Using humor and positivity and practicing living “in the moment” can help people weather the dementia storm.

Social strategies. Staying socially engaged can help people with dementia–as it helps older adults more generally–maintain their brain vitality. In fact, studies have shown that involvement in group activities and strong personal relationships can have a protective effect against the disease.

While caring for a loved one with dementia, caregivers must also consider developing their own coping strategies in order to prevent burnout. These might include joining a support group, practicing meditation or yoga, eating well, and getting plenty of sleep. People who look after someone with dementia should also reach out to friends, family, and volunteer organizations to ask for help with the daily stress of caregiving.

Here’s more from Just Care:
September 13, 2016
New data reveals that higher Social Security income helps the memory and mental functioning of older adults

As the population ages, it’s important that our policies help to prevent, reduce or delay cognitive impairments. We want to be sure that for as long as possible people can carry out daily activities. And, we want to avoid the financial and emotional costs that come with dementia. New research by Padmaja Ayyagari and David Friswold suggests that higher Social Security income helps the memory, knowledge, language and overall cognition of older adults.

Ayyagari and Friswold’s August 2015 National Bureau of Economic Research paper reveals the positive impact of Social Security income on cognitive function for older adults. It looks at whether the 1977 reduction in Social Security income for those born after 1917 led to a reduction in cognition.

Specifically the research shows that a $1,000 increase in Social Security annual income improves working memory 2.2%, knowledge, language and orientation 1.1%, and overall cognition 1.4%. It also shows that a $1,000 increase in Social Security annual income reduces the chance of being diagnosed as demented by 1.9% and the change of being diagnosed as cognitively impaired by 1%.

The authors suggest that the cost of increasing Social Security benefits could be offset by lower Medicare and Medicaid costs; higher Social Security benefits would mean fewer people needing costly treatment for cognitive impairments.

Prior research has shown that higher income can mean less financial stress and better access to care, both of which are associated with better cognition. Stress has been shown to reduce cognition for older adults. There is also a strong link between depression and reduced cognition. Stress and depression cause higher levels of corticosteroids that can affect memory.

Watch Robert Reich explain that we can afford to increase Social Security benefits and there are more reasons to do so. A look at the international data on retirement income shows that Social Security benefits in the United States are stingy for a wealthy country. And, unless something changes in the next couple of months, Social Security benefits will not increase in 2016, a rare occurrence, at great cost to millions of older adults and people with disabilities.

September 11, 2015
To help your memory, try learning a language

The jury’s still out, but researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Northwestern University in Illinois believe that older adults who study a language have a good chance of improving their memory.

In short, the researchers claim that the range of mental exercises involved in learning a language, including inductive reasoning and ability to distinguish among sounds, are all helpful to people who are aging.

To read more from The New York Times, click here.

September 8, 2014