MEMORY LOSS
DISPLACED YOUR KEYS LATELY? Or dialled a phone number
and forgotten whom you were calling? Temporary lapses in memory arc a common
phenomenon. Unfortunately, they occur with greater frequency as you get older.
The ability to retain new information is one of the first mental functions
that declines with ageing. The odd consequence is that older people can sometimes
remember an event that happened 10 years ago better than what they did 10
minutes ago.
The conversion of experience into memory is a complex biochemical process, of which scientists have only a limited understanding. In the same way that a computer has a working memory that is discarded if it is not saved on a hard drive, your brain sorts through a lot of information that it does not retain unless you have a reason to preserve it. Vivid experiences rich in images, sounds, touch or emotions tell the brain that something significant is happening, something worth remembering. So you are much more likely to recall information associated with these kinds of sensations than you are a telephone number.
Good memory requires the ability not just to store information but also to retrieve that information on demand. Consequently, when your attention is distracted by something, you have a harder time learning new things and retaining them. Part of the 'normal' age-related decline in memory results from the cumulative demands on attention that build over a lifetime.
Another aspect of age-related memory loss has to do with a deficiency of the brain's chemical messengers, called neurotransmitters. Although this deficiency may be years in the making, its symptoms rarely surface before you reach your early to mid-fifties. One chemical appears to be intimately involved in the conversion of working memory into permanent memory: acetylcholine. Many of the drugs and nutritional supplements used to help improve memory do so by increasing levels of acetylcholine in the brain.
It is important to distinguish intermittent forgetfulness from permanent
or progressive loss of memory. Everyone is familiar with the 'absent-minded
professor' character who is so preoccupied with a project that he forgets
to put on his socks in the morning. This kind of forgetfulness may be amusing,
annoying or embarrassing, but it's not a cause for medical concern. However,
if memory loss involves information critical to your ability to function,
this can indicate a medical problem. If you forget how to get back home from
the shops or can't remember the name of your parther, consult a doctor for
a thorough evaluation.
Progressive memory loss is part of a condition that neurologists and other
brain specialists call dementia, a diagnosis that means a widespread disruption
in the brain's ability to function properly.
Along with loss of memory come
impairments in concentration, judgement, reasoning and comprehension that
are severe enough to interfere with normal daily activities.
When dementia occurs in adults younger than 50, it may be related to any
number of factors, including viral infection, syphilis, alcoholism, vitamin
B,2 deficiency, brain tumour, haemorrhage, blood clots, thyroid disorders,
manic depression or severe depression. In older people the most common reasons
for dementia are Alzheimer's disease and strokes associated with hardening
of the arteries.
Because it is difficult to diagnose and treat, Alzheimer's
disease is probably the most dreaded cause of memory loss. Despite extensive
research, its cause remains unknown. What is known is that it involves the
irreversible and widespread loss of brain cells, which can lead to death
within eight to ten years. Alzheimer's may represent the end stage of a long
process of brain-cell deterioration. About 15 per cent of people with age-associated
memory impairment progress to Alzheimer's disease every year.
KEEPING A HEALTHY MEMORY
The best way to help your brain work better is to keep your body healthy. The
methods are probably nothing new to you, but the reasons these strategies affect
brain function may be.
Get up and sweat. A lifelong programme of regular physical activity is essential.
Aerobic exercise boosts circulation and sends more oxygenenriched blood
to the brain. The simple act of walking is a workout for the brain as well as
the body. Exercise also helps decrease high blood pressure, which has been associated
with mental deterioration.
Think about it. A healthy attitude combined with ongoing mental stimulation is just as important for maintaining the skills of memory and concentration. Studies show that people who seek new intellectual challenges throughout their lives are more likely to stay mentally alert and active as they get older. Other research indicates that loong-term stress interferes with concentration and damages brain cells.
Meditation and other stress reduction techniques can be a valuable antidote.
Colourise your diet. By eating foods that are rich in carotenes and flavonoids
- that's right, those colourful fruits and vegetables - you can help protect
blood vessels and brain tissue. On the other hand, high amounts of saturated
fats and trans-fatty acids (found in margarine and commercial baked goods)
have been found to increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease. The polyunsaturated
fats found in cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel, halibut and tuna
are very beneficial to brain tissue and may protect against mental decline.
Boost your Es and Cs. Two specific supplements have been found to be especially
important to brain function. A daily dose of 400 IU of vitamin E appears
to protect brain cells. In even higher amounts (1,000 to 2,000 IU per day),
it has been shown to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Vitamin
C, in doses of 2,000 to 6,000 milligrams daily, may have similar effects.
Learn to love lecithin. An extract of soyabeans, lecithin is the source of
several chemicals that help maintain healthy levels of neurotransmitters
in the brain. Taken in doses of up to 10 grams daily, lecithin is an excellent
preventive for age-related memory disorders.
DRUG TREATMENT
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors
Donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon). Function: provide mild improvement
in mental function for Alzheimer's patients. Side effects of donepezil: nausea,
vomiting, sweating, watery eyes, increased salivation, diarrhoea. Side effects
of rivastigmine: anorexia, nausea, vomiting, stomach ache, headache, confusion,
depression, tremor, sweating.
MAO-B Inhibitors
Selegiline hydrochloride (Eldepryl). Function: prevents the destruction of
certain neurotransmitters in the brain and increases their levels. Side effects:
drowsiness, dizziness, sexual dysfunction, insomnia, drug interactions.
HERBAL REMEDIES
Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)
The leaves of this tree have been used for over 2,500 years as a traditional
Chinese medicine for mental and respiratory disorders. About 30 years ago,
a highly concentrated extract (22% kilograms of leaf to make 500 grams of
extract) was developed in Germany. Since that time, more than 50 studies
have shown ginkgo's effectiveness in treating dementia from strokes and early
stage Alzheimer's disease. Its effectiveness is comparable to that of the
drug tacrine. Ginkgo is also used to prevent and treat age-related memory
loss and long-term tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Typical dosage: 120 to
140 milligrams daily of an extract standardised to 24 per cent flavonoid
glycosides and 6 per cent terpene lactones. Caution: do not combine with
blood-thinning medications such as warfarin or aspirin, or with high doses
of vitamin E.
Bacopa (Bacopa monniera)
This plant, commonly called water hyssop, is the source of an extract used
in India for centuries. It has specific benefits for the brain, and specialists
in Ayurvedic medicine commonly use it to treat mental illness and epilepsy.
Bacopa appears to strengthen memory and improve concentration by enhancing
the conductivity of nerve tissue. It also has mild sedative and anti-anxiety
properties. Bacopa is most often found in commercial formulas used for memory
symptoms. As with all manufactured herbal products, read the label carefully
and follow the manufacturers directions on dosage.
Club Moss (Huperzia sen-ata)
An ingredient in the traditional Chinese medicine remedy Qian Ceng Ta, club
moss has been used for centuries to treat fever and inflammation. More recently,
Qian Ceng Ta was found to contain a substance called huperzine A (HupA).
This substance acts similarly to the drugs tacrine and donepezil, but it
appears to be more potent and cause fewer side effects. In recent years it
has been used in China to treat more than 100,000 patients with dementia.
Huperzine A also appears to shield brain cells from injury and it may be
useful in treating strokes and epilepsy. Although it is used primarily to
treat the early stages of Alzheimer's, many people are taking it to improve
memory and enhance mental alerthess. Typical dosage: 50 to 100 micrograms
in capsules twice daily.
Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
This revered tonic from eastern Russia was used as a folk medicine to help
people endure harsh winters. The scientist who first studied Siberian ginseng
coined the term 'adaptogen' to describe the herb's ability to normalise the
functions of many body systems. The effects were confirmed in several large
medical studies performed in the former Soviet Union. In addition to improving
overall health, Siberian ginseng restores memory, increases stamina, stabilises
blood sugar and boosts the immune system. Typical dosage: 100 to 200 milligrams
of standardised extract one to three times per day; or 30 drops of tincture
one to three times per day.
