8 Dementia Risk factors Age is the single biggest risk factor for dementia. Once you hit age 65, your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease doubles every five years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You can't hold back the clock, but there are many other things you can do to keep your brain healthy as you get older. Brain cell degeneration — like that seen in Alzheimer's disease — is a key factor in the development of dementia in most people, but changes in the tiny blood vessels responsible for supplying the brain with oxygen and glucose are also important, says Mustafa Husain, MD, vice chair in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and chief of geriatrics at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina. Here are eight treatable, and sometimes preventable, health conditions and risk factors that can increase your dementia risk, and what you can do about them. 1. Steps you can take to protect your brain — and your heart — include: 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Age-Related Memory Decline: Current Concepts and Future Directions | Neurology | JAMA Neurology The effect of age on memory and the brain has been the focus of many studies. Results have identified critical questions that need to be addressed to further our understanding of age-related memory decline: Is cognitive decline diffuse or selective? Where does memory decline localize to anatomically? Does decline represent an abnormal state? What are the causes of memory decline? The neuroscience community has increasingly focused on age-related changes in higher cortical function. Beyond expanding our knowledge base, the accumulation of new findings has served to identify important questions critical in understanding age-related changes in higher cortical function. Is cognitive decline diffuse or selective? Do age-related changes occur equally across all cognitive domains, or is memory function uniquely sensitive to the effects of aging? Neuropsychologic studies1-6 have attempted to address this question using cross-sectional or longitudinal designs. I thank John C. Reprints: Scott A.
10 Brain Exercises That Boost Memory A Whole-Body Approach to a Healthy Brain So what types of exercises benefit your brain? Research shows that when it comes to keeping your mind sharp, exercising your body as well as your mind and sticking to healthy habits is the ideal formula. A study published in July 2019 in The Journal of the American Medical Association followed 196,383 participants age 60 and older who did not have cognitive impairment or dementia when they joined the study and tracked data for eight years on factors such as current smoking status, regular physical activity, healthy diet, and moderate alcohol consumption. They found that a healthy lifestyle was associated with a lower dementia risk among participants, regardless of genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Another study on the connection between lifestyle and dementia risk published in December 2013 in PLoS One, found that people who participate in multiple healthy behaviors significantly reduce their risk for dementia.
Risk factors for Vascular dementia Memory Loss & Forgetfulness: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments Many older people worry about becoming more forgetful. They think forgetfulness is the first sign of Alzheimer's disease. In the past, memory loss and confusion were considered a normal part of aging. However, scientists now know that most people remain both alert and able as they age, although it may take them longer to remember things. A lot of people experience memory lapses. Some memory problems are serious, and others are not. The term dementia describes a group of symptoms that are caused by changes in brain function. Sometimes older people have emotional problems that can be mistaken for dementia. The two most common forms of dementia in older people are Alzheimer's disease and multi infarct dementia (sometimes called vascular dementia). In multi infarct dementia, a series of strokes or changes in the brain's blood supply may result in the death of brain tissue.
Memory loss: 7 tips to improve your memory Memory loss: 7 tips to improve your memory Try these simple ways to improve your memory. By Mayo Clinic Staff Can't find your car keys? Forget your grocery list? Although there are no guarantees when it comes to preventing memory loss or dementia, some activities might help. 1. Physical activity raises blood flow to the whole body, including the brain. For most healthy adults, the Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous aerobic activity, such as jogging. 2. Just as physical activity keeps your body in shape, activities that engage your mind help keep your brain in shape. 3. Social interaction helps ward off depression and stress. 4. You're more likely to forget things if your home is cluttered or your notes are in disarray. Limit distractions. 5. Not getting enough sleep has been linked to memory loss. 6. A healthy diet is good for your brain. 7. Jan. 05, 2023
Differences Among Types of Memory Loss - Memory Problems Information about Normal "Senior Moments" & Serious Memory Loss Occasional memory lapses, such as forgetting why you walked into a room or having difficulty recalling a person's name, become more common as we approach our 50s and 60s. It's comforting to know that this minor forgetfulness is a normal sign of aging, not a sign of dementia. But other types of memory loss, such as forgetting appointments or becoming momentarily disoriented in a familiar place, may indicate mild cognitive impairment. In dementia—the most serious form of memory impairment—people often find themselves disoriented in time and place and unable to name common objects or recognize once-familiar people. Here are some examples of the types of memory problems common in normal age-related forgetfulness, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia. Normal Age-Related Forgetfulness Mild Cognitive Impairment Dementia Publication Review By: Peter V.
Are Your Memory Changes Due to Getting Older? How to Tell Contributor: Ronan Factora, MD Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy You’ve probably heard this phrase before: “I’m just getting older.” The explanation should be used with caution, though. People frequently use this expression to dismiss daily symptoms, which could result from an underlying disease, leading to needless suffering that could have been evaluated and appropriately treated. Memory complaints do occur very frequently as you get older. These are normal aging experiences, but none of these changes should affect your ability to remain independent in performing basic and instrumental daily living activities. Often, people who experiences a memory complaint never bring up the issue with their doctor. RELATED: How Older Adults Can Get the Most Benefit From Medical Visits Affecting daily life Not always dementia More informationBrain health guide
Signs & Symptoms of Memory Loss - Memory Problems Memory Problems Signs and Symptoms Memory problems can vary in severity and cause different types of signs and symptoms. Common symptoms associated with memory loss include the following: Confabulation (i.e., invented memories or real memories recalled out of sequence) Confusion Depression Difficulty handling day-to-day affairs, such as balancing a checkbook, keeping appointments, or preparing meals Forgetting people, facts, and events that were previously known well Getting lost and misplacing items Increased difficulty in following directions or taking a step-by-step approach to a familiar task Irritability Language difficulties, such as mixing up words or trouble remembering a word Neurological disorders (e.g., tremors, uncoordinated movements) Poor performance on memory tests Repeating the same stories and/or questions Complications of Memory Problems Many patients with memory problems need assistance from friends, family members, or home health aides.