Signs of Dementia and Alzheimers Disease

by Liz Neporent

Why Can't I Remember?

At the supermarket, you hit the produce aisle but you forget what you came in for. Is this memory lapse a cause for concern? According to Alexander P. Auchus, M.D., professor of neurology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, a slow-down in memory by age 40 is part of the normal aging process, but some cognitive decline could signal dementia. Here, Auchus sets the record straight about the real causes of your memory issues.

Basic Trouble

Dementia is defined by a significant loss of cognitive abilities caused by the death of brain cells. A person with dementia will be impaired to the point of having difficulty performing the basic daily functions like brushing teeth or getting dressed. Other warning signs include significant changes in personality, mood and behavior.

Loss of Self-Sufficiency

Brain mistakes are normal, especially as we get older, but if you're at the point where you can't do things for yourself -- or have a loved one in that condition -- Auchus says a thorough neurological evaluation in is order. Your doctor or a specialist can perform simple memory tests, a detailed health history and physical, and if needed, a brain scan.

Daily Difficulty

Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder characterized by the inability to carry out daily activities. About 4.5 million Americans are diagnosed and they are typically over the age of 60. Although Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia, it's not the only one. Auchus notes that it can be triggered by a single traumatic event such as a stroke or car accident.

A Little Off

A common cause of memory loss is the side effects of prescription medications. Many older people take multiple medications at once and prescriptions taken in combination can have a profound effect on memory. Make sure your doctor is monitoring drug interactions.

Mental Mistakes

Anxiety, depression and other psychological conditions and not dementia are sometimes the culprits behind mental errors. People who are depressed, for instance, may be unhappy and have trouble with motivation. They make cognitive mistakes because they don't put forth the effort. With anxiety, people are usually more aware of the problem but still make a lot of mental mistakes because they're overloaded and don't take the time to plan or check what they're doing.

Asleep on Your Feet

People who don't get enough sleep may find themselves forgetting to buy the milk on the way home from work. That's because you need to spend a certain amount of time in what's called "stage four sleep," where you experience the deep, delta brain waves needed to help your brain feel refreshed and restored. Of course, as you get older there are more factors disrupting your sleep -- arthritic pains, anxiety, and the side effects of medications -- which can majorly disrupt sleep patterns.

Feeling Fuzzy

Alcohol is toxic to the nervous system, and thus abuse of this substance can lead to forgetfulness and a high frequency of mental errors. Abusing other substances, like cocaine, can cause small strokes which damage the brain and impair mental abilities including memory.

Out of Sorts

Disease and lifestyle choices can also affect memory. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol and high blood pressure are all bad for the brain and can lead to a series of small strokes that aren't noticeable enough to land a person in the hospital, but will still leave them off balance or feeling sick, and can definitely damage memory.

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