A quarterly newsletter published by New
Mexico Senior Olympics, Inc.
| New Mexico Senior Olympics, Inc. | October 2003 |
|
Your Memory a precious |
Excerpts
Taken from
You Can Prevent and Reverse Memory Loss
Dr. Vernon Mark, Tomorrow,
published by Bottom Line Vol 11
W
e all worry about losing our memory as we get older. Many kinds of memory loss stem from a specific medical or psychological condition. The good news: It can be reversed.To start with, you shouldn’t be worried if you find you’re forgetting names, misplacing keys or glasses, etc...not remembering which items to pick up at the store...unable to recognize someone you know in a an unfamiliar setting. Such memory lapses are normal and do not indicate any serious problems.
On the other hand, see your doctor if you find you’re getting lost while driving a familiar route...forgetting important appointments...telling the same stories over and over again to the same people within a short period of time...having periods of confusion over what time it is or where you are...unable to manage your checkbook...having difficulty naming objects...experiencing a sudden or gradual change in personality or a sudden change in artistic or musical ability.
These types of memory loss may be reversible. But you’ve got to work with your doctor to determine the underlying cause.
AVOID BRAIN TOXINS
■
Alcohol is a brain poison—even small amounts of beer or wine every day are potentially harmful to your brain cells. Bottom line: Alcohol proponents claim that small amounts of alcohol may have a beneficial effect on the heart. But this effect can also be produced by drinking red or purple grape juice.■
Cigarettes have been linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which reduces the amount of oxygen flowing to the brain—decreasing brain function and memory.■
Street drugs, such as marijuana and cocaine, are all toxic to the brain and should be avoided.■
Some prescription medications, used over an extended period, can cause memory loss. This is especially true for older people who have been taking the same medication for years, or who are taking several medications simultaneously.■
Chronic stress is the leading cause of reversible memory loss among otherwise healthy people.■
Depression is another leading cause of reversible memory loss.■
If you are having memory lapses, consider having a blood test to check for levels of these vitamins: B1, B5,B6, B12 Niacin and folate. Vitamin E supplements also help protect the brain and may even stave off the progression of Alzheimer’s when taken in the early stages.■
Arterial disease is also bad for your heart and mind. It reduces blood flow to your brain. To prevent arterial disease, eat a diet high in vegetables, fruits and nuts, and low in saturated fat (found in meat and diary products)...use monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil, canola oil and peanut oil, when cooking... supplement your diet with omega-3 fatty acids (which protect the heart and brain) by eating ocean fish, such as salmon, tuna, herring or sardines, or taking fish oil or flaxseed capsules.PROTECT YOUR HEAD
Wear a protective helmet when cycling or doing any physical activity where you’re at risk for a fall.
DEVELOP MEMORY PATTERNS
The biggest error people make when they reach retirement age is doing nothing. A brain that is not challenged begins to weaken, like an underused muscle.
The best way to exercise your brain is through tasks that require developing new, complex memory patterns, such as learning to operate a computer...starting lessons on a musical instrument...taking up an intellectually challenging game, such as bridge or chess...seeking out new social situations...starting a new career (join Senior Olympics!).
Though Dr. Mark does not address it directly, regular exercise is a major key to increasing over all circulation and providing adequate oxygen and nutrition to the brain. Diet is only one side of the coin of good health. The strategy, skill, and socialization required for regular activity and competition will fill many of the requirements outlined in the article above. Stay busy, stay challenged, stay young!
