Who hasn’t forgotten the name of an old friend, where they put their keys or why they went into a room for something? I know I have. And it does make you stop and wonder—am I losing my memory? As we get older, our memory does slow down a bit naturally. But that does not signal that Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia are taking root. I am writing this article because I have seen the impact that dementia has on people that you love. When my Dad looked at me and asked who I was, it was awful.
When my Mom kept asking what day it was over and over, it required tremendous patience to soothe her. These were two incredibly smart, wonderful people. I am committed to doing all I can to protect my brain, and to help others to do so as well. Based on research, there are things we all can do to reduce the risks of getting these debilitating and devastating symptoms and diseases of the brain.
First, let’s provide some clarity of definition on the two from the Alzheimer’s Association:
Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s is the most common
cause
Dementia is caused by damage to brain cells. This damage interferes with the ability of brain cells to communicate with each other. When brain cells cannot communicate normally, thinking, behavior and feelings can be affected. Many conditions are progressive, which means that the signs of dementia start out slowly and gradually get worse.
In
Alzheimer’s disease
, high levels of certain proteins develop inside and outside brain cells and make it hard for brain cells to stay healthy and to communicate with each other. The brain region called the hippocampus is the center of learning and memory in the brain, and the brain cells in this region are often the first to be damaged. That’s why memory loss is often one of the earliest symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Let’s compare normal signs of aging with sign of Alzheimer’s and Dementia:
According to
The Aging Brain: Proven Steps to Prevent Dementia and Sharpen Your Mind
by Dr. Timothy R. Jennings, (available on Amazon) there are several risk factors that exacerbate the potential to get Alzheimer’s and Dementia. His book goes into much detail about what can cause the dangerous proteins to develop and damage our brain cells. Fortunately, Dr. Jennings cites lifestyle choices can help keep our brains sharp. Let’s get specific:
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