Is It Actually Possible to Prevent Memory Loss

We all know that prevention is better than cure; it may be a cliché, but that does not make it any less true. Now this NY Times article contemplates if it is possible to actually prevent memory loss. If you have been a regular reader of this blog you would know that there are many ways to keep our minds in good working order. Here is a recap of that:

• Mental Exercise for the Brain

• Physical Exercise for the Brain

• How to Improve Memory

• Memory Boosting Drugs

• Fish Oil for the Brain

• Vitamins for the Brain

• Ayurveda and Memory Loss

So there are several ways that will keep our minds working well and ways to keep dementia at bay as far as is possible.

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Good Health Tips for Baby Boomers

The baby boomer generation, is an entire generation, not just a group of people that are reaching a stage of their lives, when the aches and pains are making themselves felt, the stairs are beginning to resemble mountains, getting out of chairs is an effort in itself and as for squatting; that has not been possible in a while! For this generation of people as a demographic, there is the need to pay special attention to health, laying emphasis on healthy eating, proper activity and making sure that ailments such as blood pressure, diabetes, stress, obesity and other attendant problems are kept within check. For this, it is important to:

Make a Start:

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Ayurveda and Memory Loss

Ayurveda is something that is viewed by Western medicine as ‘alternative’ or ‘complementary’ medicine. It is the system of traditional medicine that emerged and has evolved through the ages in India. Ayurveda stresses mainly on plant based medicine and uses different kinds of oils, spices and minerals for its curative procedures. The use of turmeric and neem for the cure of various ills is well known and when these were sought to be patented in the US, these patents were cancelled on the grounds that these were generically used in a vast majority of India households over the centuries.

Ayurveda also has been seen to help in cases where memory loss has been a problem with patients. Ayurveda even otherwise produces formulations for improvement of memory for students or others who wish to improve their retentive powers. The traditional plant Bhrahmi is considered to be highly beneficial for the improvement of memory.

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Memory Loss Resulting from Menopause

There is the normal loss of memory that occurs with aging and then there is a kind of memory loss, forgetfulness, fuzzy thinking, problems in concentration and learning new things, trouble finding the right words that comes as a side effect of the process of menopause. This can be very scary indeed, leading some to think (erroneously) that this is the early onset of dementia or that most dreaded of diseases, Alzheimer's.

However there is no reason to panic if the memory loss is occurring along with other menopausal symptoms; it is most likely a temporary phase. Studies have shown that Women going through the menopause suffer from temporary loss of memory and learning ability. This can be disconcerting for the women, but not an awful lot to worry about.

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How Do Memory Loss Drugs Work?

Memory loss drugs are taken to help ease problems such as Alzheimer's disease, dementia due to Lewy bodies, vascular dementia and other types of memory loss. Many of these drugs promise amazing and seemingly miraculous results. This then brings us to the question as to how these drugs work. I found some useful information about some if the popular memory loss drugs here, and also some information about how they work:

Drugs like Tacrine, or Cognex, Donepezil, or Aricept, Galantamine, or Razadyne, and Rivastigmine, or Exelon, increase levels of acetylcholine in the brain, thereby slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s. Side effects of some of these drugs may include gastrointestinal discomfort.

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Alcohol and Dementia

It is well known that alcohol abuse or alcoholism has many negative effects on a person’s life, which can be physical and mental as well as social in nature. According to wiki the ill effects to physical health associated with alcohol consumption may include cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis, epilepsy, polyneuropathy, heart disease, increased chance of cancer, nutritional deficiencies, sexual dysfunction, and death from many sources.

Among the detrimental effects of alcohol on brain function and thus psychological well being are conditions such as anxiety and depression disorders, with as many as 25% of alcoholics presenting with severe psychiatric disturbances. Chronic alcohol misuse can also cause panic disorder to develop or worsen. There can also be very serious social repercussions of alcoholism, a person’s interpersonal relationships, and professional abilities can also be impaired due to alcohol dependence. Marital conflict, domestic violence and divorce can all be the negative effects of alcoholism.

While it is well known that alcohol abuse kills brain cells now there is increased evidence that binge drinking increases the risk of dementia.

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Age Related Memory Loss

It is true that we age and that our brain inevitably ages with us. What is also true is that the decline in our brains does then lead to memory lapses and other difficulties. The good news is that this does not happen to everyone, and the severity of it is not uniform. There is no reason why many of us won’t continue to live happy, healthy, fruitful lives even in the twilight of our years.

In fact general aging and age related memory loss will not affect the following functions:
• How to do the things you’ve always done and do often
• The wisdom and knowledge you’ve acquired from life experience
• Your innate common sense
• The ability to form reasonable arguments and judgments
• The ability to learn new skills and make then routine (though it might take longer)

The memory may be affected in these following ways, which is par for the course and nothing to worry about:

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Do You Have Alzheimer's Disease? How You Can Tell If You Do

It is important to remember that all memory loss is certainly not caused by Alzheimer’s disease, which follows a definite pattern and has clearly identifiable symptoms which can help you distinguish the disease from other kinds of memory loss.

Eliminate other Causes
There are other medical conditions that can cause problems similar to Alzheimer’s which should be eliminated as possible causes of the symptoms before a diagnosis of Alzheimer's. Sometimes memory lapses or mood swings may be caused by depression, a metabolic disorder such as hypothyroidism, a reaction to a drug, or a vitamin deficiency.

Also rule out other factors such as

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Memory Boosting Supplements; How Safe are they?

For all those of us who are suffering the effects of aging and finding a lessening in the acuity of our brains, the thought of supplements to boost brain power and memory has to have crossed our minds. Of course what also crosses our mind is are these supplements safe to take? Will they have any harmful side effects and are they really as effective as they say they are?

Take Gingko Biloba for instance. By all accounts this is an effective memory boosting supplement that many recommend. This herbal supplement is extracted from one of the oldest known trees to man, which is also known as the Maidenhair tree. The use of Gingko to cure several ills, for general good health and well being has been practiced in places like China literally for thousands of years. So this is really something that is ‘tried and tested’ so to speak. Also the fact that this is a herbal remedy makes it safe. As long as the supplement you use is not spurious, is of a good quality, and free from any adulteration, Gingko is excellent for you and will cause you no side effects.

A word of caution while using any kind of memory boosting supplements though.

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Alzheimer's and Diabetes: The connection

For the past some years now, the link between diabetes or blood sugar and Alzheimer’s has been studied. In 2004, the BBC reported news of a study that demonstrated how having diabetes can increase a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by up to 65%. According to the article, tests showed that speed of perception - being able to tell whether two things are the same or different - declined faster in diabetics than in healthy patients, by around 44%.

Recently as well, there has been much in the news to substantiate the premise that diabetes and dementia are linked. This CBS news article talks about how diabetes increases the risk of getting Alzheimer's disease and may speed dementia once it strikes. The article talks about how the damage may start before someone is diagnosed with full-blown diabetes, back when the body is gradually losing its ability to regulate blood sugar.

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Memory Tests for the Brain: See how you Score

It is well documented that in order to keep your brain agile and able, you need to challenge and stretch it; with the brain it is definitely a case of “if you don’t use it you lose it”. We have earlier looked at the kind of mental exercises each one of us needs to do if we are keep good mental health for a longer time. Similarly memory tests and memory exercises help us understand our mental abilities and help keep then in good working order.

This BBC memory test is actually part of a study where the result of your test is collated to a data base that the answers you give will help University of Edinburgh experimental psychologists with their research. I did part of the test; it was not difficult and I enjoyed doing it.

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Sleep and Memory: the Correlation

Did you ever give a thought to the phrase, ‘Let me sleep on it’? Have you noticed how things seem so much clearer and decisions so much easier to make when you have had a good, refreshing night’s sleep?

I recall how during examination days, I would study for a few hours and then take an hour’s nap. That seemed to give my brain the time to consolidate and retain that which I had learnt and studied. If I had a sleep break, I was better able to retain what I had studied, and the material was clearer inside my head somehow.

This is just my personal practical experience of how sleep and memory are linked, there is also a wealth of scientific data now to prove that an optimum amount of sleep is required not just for memory retention but also for good health and well being.

It has been shown that...

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How Memory is Created!

What is so scary about memory is how it is inexplicably lost. For the longest time memory and the functioning of the brain used to be an incomprehensible puzzle for mankind but now as psychological research progresses, we are understanding more and more how the brain works; how memory is created, how it is stored and how it may be retrieved.

I read an interesting explanation about how memory is created here: creating our brain memories is a bit like creating say a word document which will be lost after creating, unless you hit ‘Save’ and it is similar in the case of our brains as well. Our brain also enables us to first create the memories and then to stabilize and 'save' the memories we've created, which can also then be edited.

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Vitamins to Help Your Memory Loss

Can vitamins help with slowing or reversing memory loss? Well research and studies have shown that vitamins could be very helpful delay the onset or the severity of memory loss because they supply essential nutrients to the brain and prevent several problems related to memory loss. It is possible to provide the brain with specific memory vitamins for memory loss nutrients that help improve mental abilities and speed of recall, no matter what one’s age! Along with glucose, certain memory vitamins and minerals supply the raw materials needed for neurotransmitter production in the body.

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant found in all tissues, including the brain. A study found that the lowest blood levels of vitamin E had the highest incidence of senile dementia and "cognitive impairment" compared to those who had the highest vitamin E levels. Another study also found

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Alcohol Related Memory Loss

I have experienced close at hand the negative effects that alcohol abuse can have on an individual, which I have talked about before. Alcohol related memory loss is not just about getting tanked in the bar tonight and not remembering a thing the next morning. Long term use of alcohol in larger quantities can have several undesirable repercussions such as damage to the liver etc. but also among them, memory loss. The effects that alcohol intoxication can have on cognitive function are not so well known. In short big drinkers are at increased risk of for memory loss and dementia.

As reported here, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. When the researchers compared data from 373 people with dementia (age 65 and older) and

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How To Better Remember

Like the graying of hair, and the sagging and lining of skin, an inevitable byproduct of aging is an aging of the brain and a decrease in the ability to remember things. As there is a decline is our general mental prowess, there is a requirement to shore up our mental faculties with little tips and tricks that help us remember better. Here are some useful ways and means that I found, for helping retain something better and recalling it better:

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Advances in Alzheimer's Cure: Recent Studies and Findings

Areas of the Brain Affected by Alzheimer's Disease

It is the nature of the disease and the fact of how widespread it is that causes scientists and researchers expend so much time and energy on finding cures for Alzheimer’s disease. It is estimated that 2-5% of people over the age of 65, and up to 20% of those over 80, have the condition. Of late I came across some interesting as well as heartening information about recent advancements made in this space and we are now closer than ever before to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s.

This BBC article talks about a drug called Aricept which a sufferer of moderate Alzheimer’s has found to be very effective in slowing the rate of deterioration. The article goes on to talk about Some specialist memory clinics, such as the Rice centre (Research Institute for the Care of Older People Centre) in Bath, which offer assessment, support, information and advice to carers and to those with memory problems. According to the sufferer on Aricept, "The drugs have.....

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Fish Oil: Not Just for Memory Loss

We have discussed what supplements are good for limiting or slowing or even improving memory loss, in which we touched on how good fish oil is for us and our ageing memories. However there is a whole lot that fish oil is good for. By having a balanced diet that includes beneficial and healthy fats (Omega3 fatty acids) we can improve not only the health of our brains but also our bodies. Omega3 fatty acids are said to be good for everything from weight loss, to curing eczema, to curing colds, to preventing heart disease…

Heart disease, High Blood Pressure, Triglycerides: Among women, higher consumption of fish and omega-3 fatty acids is

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Check resource page for fish oil

Baby Boomers and Memory Loss

Baby boomer is the term used to describe someone who was born during the post-World War II baby boom. Though there is no clear consensus as to what exactly a baby boomer is, this is the generally accepted definition for term. This is a generation of people that was generally associated with privilege and as a group, they were the healthiest, and wealthiest generation to that time.

The baby boomers are now an aging generation, and though many will refuse to admit it, they are a generation grappling with and trying to come to terms with old age and its attendant difficulties. Perhaps the most difficult issue that the Baby Boomer has to grapple with is that of Memory Loss. Memory is a person's mental ability to store, retain and recall information and the decline of this is known as memory loss.

The reason that baby boomers find the idea of memory loss so scary is largely because

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Memory Boosting Drugs

There is no doubt that we can now, as a result of modern medical advancement, have access to drugs that improve memory, concentration, planning and reduce impulsive behavior. These are variously termed as smart drugs, smart nutrients, cognitive enhancers, brain enhancers. They are also termed as Nootropics. Studies relating to memory and memory boosting drugs are being carried out all the time as reported in this BBC article here.

This Time article talks about how a 40 year old executive used Adderall, a prescription amphetamine ordinarily used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) very successfully to help him in his continue work and the multitasking and speed that is typically required. The article raises a lot of questions about the safety of such drugs and the moral and the ethical implications that their use involves.

Given that many issues surround the popping of pills for reasons such as boosting the memory or otherwise, one is always on the lookout for safe supplements that are natural or as close to what nature intended as they can reasonably be. Among these, Fish Oil, Gingko Biloba and Gotu Kola are known to be beneficial.

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Physical Exercise and How it Benefits the Brain

We have spoken a lot about the kind of mental exercises that keep the brain agile and keep mental deterioration at bay, such as puzzles, concentration games, online memory tests, crosswords, quizzes and reading of all kinds. But even physical activity and exercise boost the brain’s well being.

In a study conducted by researchers at the Columbia University Medical Center, blood glucose (blood sugar) levels have been shown to be linked with memory loss that occurs with aging. Turns out that one should be careful to control blood sugar levels for reasons other than the obvious ones, obesity, diabetes, etc. According to a web journal, the researchers, using high-resolution brain imaging showed that rising blood sugar levels selectively target a key area of the brain linked to memory decline. According to lead researcher Scott Small,

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Mental Exercises for the Brain

Do you know the similarity between an abandoned house and an idle brain? They both deteriorate. The most effective was to keep a mind agile and in good health is to USE it! Stretch your mind, challenge it with puzzles, conundrums, quizzes; read, learn new things, do some Mental Exercise for the Brain so that the inevitable and inexorable march or time has less effect on your brain. It is the principle of “Use it or lose it”!

As you would desire and work towards a fit body, so must one concentrate on constantly stimulating the mind as well! Proactively doing so is said to generate new neurons and strengthen neural connections. So what can you do to put the brain through a good, strenuous work out?

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Famous Victims of Dementia

Former US president Ronald Reagan, and former English Prime Minister Margret Thatcher were among the most powerful people in the world when they held the highest office in their respective countries. The diseases that later befell them, a scant 10 years after they relinquished office, that of different kinds of dementia; are difficult to reconcile with the powerful, and phenomenally influential and successful people that they undoubtedly were.


In August 1994, at the age of 83, Ronald Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, an incurable neurological disorder which ultimately causes brain cells to die. In November he informed the nation via a hand-written letter, writing in part,

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