Advice
Let’s Go to The Doctor: What Happens When Your Brain Gets Sick
As we grow older, it’s natural to feel concern about changes in our mental abilities. We want to carry out our daily routines, be self-sufficient and relive the most treasured moments of our lives – without having to worry about our memory and dementia.
Part 2 of 2
By Clifford L. Williams
“Everyone ages,” as noted by BlackDoctor.org (BD). The longer you live on Earth, the more you will notice how things change – including your body and mind.
Aging is a natural process of our lives, according to BD. As we age, we experience gradual changes to our brains and bodies. Some of these changes affect our physical and mental abilities and may increase our risk of disease.
Each one of us experiences aging differently. The extent of how we experience changes due to aging, and the point in our lives when they start becoming more noticeable, varies from person to person.
As we grow older, it’s natural to feel concern about changes in our mental abilities. We want to carry out our daily routines, be self-sufficient and relive the most treasured moments of our lives – without having to worry about our memory and dementia.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) almost 40% of us will experience some form of memory loss after we turn 65 years old.
But even if we experience memory loss, chances are still unlikely that we have dementia. For the most part, our memory loss is mild enough that we can still live our day-to-day lives without interruption.
The WHO estimates that, after we turn 60 years old, 5% to 8% of us will live with dementia at some point. With dementia, symptoms including memory loss gradually worsen to the point where our abilities seriously deteriorate, and we are no longer able to take care of ourselves.
But dementia and Alzheimer’s are not the same. Dementia is a collection of symptoms, while Alzheimer’s is disease of the brain. It is the top neurodegenerative disorder in the world. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 5.8 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s in the United States.
Early Signs of Alzheimer’s to Look Out For:
- Difficulty finding words, vision or spatial issues, and impaired judgment or reasoning
- Stuttering or halting speech, difficulty recalling words, or using substitutes for words
- Difficulty paying bills, cooking, or following a recipe
- Losing track of dates, getting lost in a familiar place, or having trouble understanding an event that’s happening later
- Becoming more easily upset, feeling depressed, scared, or anxious, or being suspicious of people
- Scaling back on projects at work, becoming less involved with hobbies, or lacking motivation
When it comes to enhancing our memory and cognitive abilities, engaging in brain games is an effective and enjoyable approach. Not only do these games provide entertainment, but they also stimulate various areas of the brain, leading to improved memory.
According to HealthDay News, a new drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In clinical trials, donanemab (Kisunla), modestly slowed the decline in thinking among patients in the early stages of the disease.
With a diagnosis of dementia and seeking information about that illness, it can be both overwhelming and emotional. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed early, there is hope. You can plan for your care before your symptoms accelerate.
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