Alzheimer's Help?

[Bayard]

My mom had Alzheimer's when she died, and I'm starting to forger words sometimes, so I'm getting worried. I've started taking Ginkgo Biloba, Turmeric, and probiotics, as well as, trying to eat more things like walnuts and blueberries. Trying to steer clear of red meat (if the husband will stop buying pork chops!)

Anyone else in the same boat, and what are you doing about it? Any results?

[demigoddess]

1. I sometimes think it is a case of if you live long enough

you will have something like Alzheimer's. My uncle had it, my grandfather probably had it and I, too, am forgetting words. Especially the names of old movie stars. But then I can't be brilliant forever.

[tymorial]

2. Have you seen your doctor?

Losing words and memory lapses can have other causes besides dementia and or Alzheimer's. First things first see your doctor that way if it's serious you can get ahead of it.

You can also keep a log that way if there are patterns they can be more easily identified. Hang in there.

[woodsprite]

3. Are you on any statins or BP meds?

My FIL has Alzheimer’s, and his Dr told him that physical activity was good (walking, bicycling, rebounding - 30 to 45 min a day), as well as doing puzzles. Also told him to work up to 3 tbls of ground flaxseed a day added into his various foods, even though he was also on fish oil for omegas. Something about the lignins.

The reason I asked about statins or BP meds is that sometimes memory issues are a side effect. Dads doc switched him to a different one for BP, and lowered his dose of atorvastin to see if it helped before he was officially diagnosed.

[Bayard]

8. Nope

Don't have high blood pressure

[LibinMo]

11. Metformin has also been associated with memory loss

It is a type 2 diabetes drug.

[Duppers]

17. That info has been updated...

"Metformin is known to cross the blood-brain barrier, and has pleiotropic effects. It is known to have other possible preventive roles in cancer and heart disease. From all these various studies, one can conclude that metformin does have a therapeutic potential for mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
Jul 16, 2016."

http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/metformin-and-alzheimers-a-potential-new-therapy/


And there's this Harvard study re: sugar in diet:


"A study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that even in people without diabetes, above normal blood sugar is associated with an increased risk of developing dementia. ... “The speculation is that elevated blood sugar levels are causing more vascular disease..."'
Aug 7, 2013."


Sugar is poison.



Disclosure: I'm taking metformin, but my doctor told me to cut back since my blood sugar is now under control with my diet and a bit of exercise. I've lost a LOT of weight, warranting my buying new clothes! Sometimes it takes a crisis to make people get off their butts and do something.

[enough]

4. Exercise.

From Mayo Clinic:

Exercising several times a week for 30 to 60 minutes may:

Keep thinking, reasoning and learning skills sharp for healthy individuals

Improve memory, reasoning, judgment and thinking skills (cognitive function) for people with mild Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment

Delay the start of Alzheimer's for people at risk of developing the disease or slow the progress of the disease

Physical activity seems to help your brain not only by keeping the blood flowing but also by increasing chemicals that protect the brain. Physical activity also tends to counter some of the natural reduction in brain connections that occurs with aging.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/expert-answers/alzheimers-disease/faq-20057881

[Faux pas]

5. My mom died with Alzheimer's too.

Your need protein for sure. I play word games on fb and on my phone. Marijuana helps too

https://memory.foundation/2012/02/14/why-your-brain-needs-protein/

https://www.leafscience.com/2017/12/22/marijuana-alzheimers-disease/

Good luck and keep me posted Bayard!

[lunatica]

6. A good supplement strictly for brain function

Last edited Mon Feb 26, 2018, 02:50 PM - Edit history (1)

That I take is Phosphetidyl Serine. It protects and fortifies cell membranes and comes from Sunflower lechitin. No stimulants of any kind are added.

One time I got a urinary tract infection that really messed with my memory and my ability to concentrate after it was over. My job was one where I needed To remember legal policies. I started taking PS and could gauge an improvement right away.

In another previous instance years earlier I had a job that required constant multitasking. When I started taking the supplement I was experiencing mental burnout especially on Fridays. I would literally walk in circles because I would go do something and then immediately forget what I was going to do so I’d walk back to my office and remember what I was going to do. This isn’t uncommon except it would happen all day long on Fridays and not the rest of the time. That’s when I started taking PS and the very first week there was a measurable difference.

[Bayard]

9. I will check this out

Do you order online?

[lunatica]

12. You can get it from Amazon

I get the one made by Jarrow Formulas which is called PS100 with a blue and gold label. I tried others but for me this one works best.

[FSogol]

7. A NPR show recently on alzheimer had a doctor on that said, not to worry about forgeting words.

He said forgetting words is a normal part of aging. The example he used was forgetting where your keys are is normal, forgetting what your keys are is a sign of trouble.

Go see your doctor, eat healthy, get daily exercise, and use your brain.

My Dad has Alzheimer and that's probably my future too. It's a terrible disease.

[Bayard]

10. I don't exercise like I used to in my younger days

No more running, cycling.....can't even ride my own horses because they are all retired. But, I am hiking up hill to the barn several times a day, throwing around bales of hay, cleaning stalls, digging in the garden, etc.

I'm only 60.......

[Duppers]

18. I'd bet you move 3x's more than most folks do.

Every day.

You cannot take care of a farm, a garden, 40+ critters and not stay physically active. You move, my friend.

I bet you're stressed and too tired and that's causing your word loss. It's temporary. Has happened to me several times. (But, as you know, I suffer with CFS/ME which wreaks havoc with people every way possible, including major brain fog.)

[sakabatou]

13. Go to your doctor first before you get advice here

[Fla Dem]

14. God, I forget names all the time.

Even of people I see fairly frequently. I usually remember at some point, but in the moment I just can’t pull it out.

An incident the other day, talking to some friends about going to a store. I couldn’t for the life of me recall the name of the store I went to. About 10 minutes it popped into my head and I blurted it out.

I blame it on my RAM. I just don’t have enough to store all the data I have taken in over the year, therefore my processing speed at times is slow.

[rurallib]

15. couple things that happened to me

1) my memory really falters when my sinuses are clogged. This has been a problem since I was in my 40s. Sometimes it gets so bad I can't even call a spoon a spoon

2) I was listening to a show on NPR about another memory problem I have - people's names. I may see a person I know, but I blank on the name - I can give you a short bio of the person, but can't remember the name
Seems that problem is not all that unusual and has an official psychology name. Before I heard that I was really starting to question myself.

Don't know if that helps. Always heard also that like memory in a computer sometimes your brain just runs out of space. Hard exercise seems to help that.

[Fla Dem]

20. Sounds like what I described in the post above.

I can picture the person, know exactly who they are but can't for the life of me put a name to the person. It's temporary as I usually come up with the name in a few minutes, but that brief void where there is nothing, can sometimes be unsettling. I do have sinus issues, so maybe that's it.

[Drahthaardogs]

16. GO TO A DOCTOR!

There are medications that may help.

[Ohiya]

19. My mother died with Alzheimer's last year

My father died of a heart attack in 1980.

I watch my diet, mostly vegetarian, I eat salmon a once or twice a week, spinach, strawberries and blueberries daily. I also feel that exercise is very important, you've got to get your blood flowing and oxygen to the brain.

Also building cognitive reserve, I take guitar lessons and dance lessons both of which are supposed to be very good at enhancing brain function.

I also do a lot of crossword puzzles, and other word puzzles. Personally, I think that watching TV is bad for your brain.

I'm an RN a lot of my patients have dementia.

Good Luck to us all!

[Bayard]

21. I spend too much time on DU!

Does that count?

My business requires that I spend most of my time doing online research. I would think that helps. I am also a voracious reader.

Thanks for everyone's input. It helps.