Take steps to slow down memory loss

As a mom, I have definitely been the one digging through backpacks or searching kitchen counters the night before school starts, realizing we forgot a form, which is exactly why I always encourage getting everything taken care of early, including the annual wellness visit.

It’s one of the most important steps you can As early as in our 30s, we may find that we start to forget little things every once in a while and find it harder to multi-task as well.

However, more serious memory loss is not a normal part of aging. This type of memory loss significantly affects how we function in daily life and is not “just old age.” An example is when someone can’t remember the last time they ate, or how to tell time.

As a geriatrician, I can help patients tell the difference between normal forgetfulness and more serious memory problems through a comprehensive assessment called a “cognitive evaluation.”

It can be scary when memory loss starts to impact someone’s day-to-day life. But the earlier memory loss is caught, the more we can do to slow down the process.before school and it helps ensure your child is truly ready for the year ahead.

During this appointment, we can:

• Check growth and development
• Update medical history and vaccinations
• Address physical, behavioral, or emotional concerns
• Complete school or sports physicals in one visit with no additional cost

I always recommend scheduling early. It helps avoid last-minute stress and gives us time to address anything that could impact your child once school starts.

Forgetting minor things, like where you put your glasses, is a typical sign of aging. Don’t be alarmed if you find yourself writing sticky notes or setting alarms on your phone to remind yourself to take medicines.

The memory loss that people typically call “dementia” is more than just forgetting things. It impacts how someone acts every day. An example is when someone who is usually on time for appointments starts showing up on the wrong days or at the wrong times.

Things to watch for that may indicate this type of memory loss include:

• Repeating questions over and over
• Telling the same stories to the same person in a short time period
• Forgetting familiar names or people (like close family or friends)
• Asking for directions to places visited often, like church or a family member’s house
• Not remembering to bathe or eat
• Trouble following instructions

True dementia often involves more than just memory loss, too. Look for changes to:

• Visual perception
• Judgment
• Language
• Self-control
• Attention span

Often, families tell me they first noticed a problem when a favorite holiday meal tasted different because their loved one had a hard time following a recipe they’d used for years.

There are different types of dementia, and dementia is only one of many things that can affect memory. That makes every memory loss case different. How we treat memory loss depends on the actual problem, so a good evaluation and treatment plan is important.

Early treatment can often slow the effects of memory loss. It’s also important to keep both mind and body active. Here are some activities that can help:

• Stay social. Sometimes that’s hard as we get older if friends and family start to move away. However, talking with people is a great way to keep the mind engaged.
• Learn new things. Join a book club, a Bible study group, or a class. Reading is great, but learning something new and then talking with others about it is even more powerful for your mind!
• Exercise. A daily walk around the neighborhood or other physical activity helps both brain and body.

Likewise, it’s good to get enough sleep each night and eat healthy and lean foods. Fruits like blueberries and raspberries, as well as vegetables like spinach and broccoli, are high in something called “antioxidants” and are good for our brains.

Other ways to reduce memory loss include:

• Work with your provider to manage your health (like blood pressure and cholesterol)
• Keep a daily routine
• Make to-do lists and keep a calendar
• Have a place at home where important items such as wallet, glasses and keys are always kept

Words like “dementia” and “Alzheimer’s” make many people fear memory loss. But early evaluation and treatment can help slow down the effects and keep people living an independent life.

If you’ve noticed changes in your own memory or that of a loved one, talk with your primary care physician. Consider asking for a baseline memory evaluation.

Holston Medical Group’s primary care providers are here through it all for you and your family at every age. Providers who know their patients well can help spot some of the signs of memory loss early and quickly refer them to geriatric medicine. The sooner we can do an evaluation, the sooner we can start treatment!

Not all memory loss is the same. But together, your primary care provider and geriatric medicine specialist can help determine the best path forward.