seniors aging gracefully

For someone who is elderly, like me, this is a serious concern.

First it is important to know your risk

is there dementia in your background, did a relative get diagnosed with this

It may be helpful to explore if you carry a genetic marker for dementia

It is crucial to get a diagnosis early as certain dementias do respond to medication that can impede or slow further declines and new medications are coming out almost daily

there are many forms of dementia, some respond better to medications and others do not

Lewy Body Dementia – it has been in the news lately as Ted Turner was diagnosed with it and Robin Williams obtained this diagnosis after his death

It is a nasty form of dementia, rapidly progressing and impacting the frontal lobes/executive functioning. It can be apparently in the early stages in difficulties planning, inhibiting impulses, and engaging in abstract thinking.

Alzheimer’s dementia – this is what folks with memory loss are typically diagnosed with, symptoms include memory loss and loss in executive functioning

Vascular dementia – relates to loss of blood flow to certain areas of the brain and can be seen in younger folks. It is not reversable and is best diagnosed with a CAT scan or MRI

Korsakoff’s dementia – due to excessive drinking over a long period of time. Is not likely to be progressive if someone stops drinking and may be reversed to some extent.

Interestingly, women tend to be diagnosed with dementia at younger ages but dementia in males tend to be some severe. Clearly hormones, testosterone, plays a role.

Memory loss as you age, especially after age 60, is common and should not raise a red flag. So if you go into a room and forget why you went in there to begin with, it’s OK. But if you forget the names of your children, make an appointment with a neurologist.

sometimes, as Barbara Striasand sang, “what;s too painful to remember, we simply choice to forget.”