Memory Loss Prevention For Alzheimer’s Patients

April 29th, 2010

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) can be an extremely debilitation condition, often resulting in patients forgetting many things. But there are a few ways that you may have never heard of to help memory loss prevention in patients with this condition.

In early 2010, the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry published a study that followed 16 patients of AD, 9 of which drank wild blueberry juice for 12 weeks, 7 of which received a placebo. The blueberry juice was a simple mix made from commercially available frozen wild blueberries. Patients dranks 2 and a half cups each day and the results were amazing. The researchers performed memory testing before and after the 12 weeks. The group that received the wild blueberry juice showed incredible improvement on learning and memory test when compared to those in the placebo group.

A July 2009 study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, found that caffeine may be a viable treatment for AD related memory loss. The study was carried out on mice who were bred with AD. Mice that received a daily dose of caffeine for two months showed an increase in performance on memory testing. This study shows a lot of promise that caffeine may be used as a way to help memory loss prevention in patients who are already suffering from AD.

Besides recent studies, there are also many other practices that are commonly accepted as methods of helping AD with the memory. One of the most important aspects is simply keeping the mind engaged each day. It is too common that AD patients do not receive any kind of brain exercise. But activities like listening to music and look at photographs will help to kep their brains from becoming static and weak.

There is no doubt that memory loss prevention of AD patients will continue to develop. But for now, these few new studies are showing a lot of promise.

Simple Memory Loss Treatments For The Elderly

April 28th, 2010

Many elderly people who experience a decrease in the ability to recall information are scared into seeing their doctor at the first sign. Sometimes this might be a great idea, since memory loss an be an early warning sign of Alzheimer’s Disease. But, if it turns out that you are experiencing normal aging problems, then there are many memory loss treatments that you can take advantage of on your own.

The first thing that you can begin doing right now is remain socially active. Research has shown us that people who have an active social life have more vibrant memory systems. So, keep on seeing friends and family as much as you can.

You could also try taking some supplements as memory loss treatments. You could start with a simple multi-vitamin that contains Vitamin B which will help blood flow to your head and carry oxygen to your brain. You may want to make sure that it also has vitamin D which helps in the development of healthy brain cells. You could also try a magnesium supplement. This mineral has been linked to a healthier hippocampus, a part of your brain that helps to regulate memories.

Next, make sure that you are using your brain all the time by completing crossword puzzles and other short brain teasers. Plus, you will benefit from repetition of new important information. For instance, when you learn someone’s name for the first time, you should try to repeat out loud – say something like “Well it’s nice to meet you NAME”. Then you can even repeat it quietly to yourself after your conversation. The act of repeating helps to strengthen the pathways in your brain that are connected to the information.

Try a few of these memory loss treatments throughout your day. If you find that your memory is steadily getting worse, then you should go back to your doctor and let them know.

The Depression-Memory Loss Connection

April 27th, 2010

When you are feeling down, you may just be in a bad mood. If your mood stays low for a very long time, you may be suffering from depression. Memory loss is a huge side effect experienced by depression sufferers. There are several reasons why you are experiencing this, and there are a few things that you should do about it quickly.

If you want to cure your depression memory loss, you will have to deal with your depression first and foremost. You brain is most likely too focused on the events in your life, your thoughts are centering around just a few issues. So, there is not much energy left to be devoted to creating memories. Most people who are feeling depressed spend a lot of time alone which only complicates problems with memory. Research has shown that socially active people have better memories.

First, you need to examine why you are feeling depressed. Has a tragic event happened recently? Are you having family problems? Financial problems? You need to understand why you are feeling this way if you ever want to get any better. Sometimes you may not know exactly what the problem is – you should devote a few hours of down time to spend with your thoughts until you can figure out the root of your problem.

Depression is very hard to overcome on your own, and you may continue to experience depression memory loss until your condition improves. You should realize that depression is treatable and curable. Even though you may feel hopeless right now, there is no reason that will not be able to be helped by medication or a trained professional. A good first step is to let someone know that you are feeling depressed. This is sometimes very difficult to do, but it is a necessary step in the healing process.

Improve Working Memory In 10 Minutes Per Day

April 25th, 2010

Your working memory is where you store information for a short time. The average healthy adult can store about seven pieces of information in the working memory. As you get older, you should try to find some ways to improve working memory each day. Here are some suggestions that you can use, to do it in less than 10 minutes each day.

You could try feeding your brain some good supplements. This will take much less than 10 minutes because it only involves swallowing a pill. Go down to the local drug store or department store and pick up an Omega-3 supplement. Omega-3 has many health benefits. It will work to regulate your immune system, improve your overall heart health and also work to improve working memory in healthy adults. The best way to absorb Omega-3 is through a fish oil supplement.

You could also try adding antioxidants to your diet to improve working memory. You can find antioxidants in fresh fruits and many vegetables. Or you could take a concentrated fruit supplement like a maqui berry drink. These antioxidants are special molecules that fight off free radicals in your body and hae been shown to fight cancer. But a side benefit is that they prevent other molecules from oxidizing and damaging surrounding cells. You don’t want molecules oxidizing to damage your memory, so you should eat some fresh fruit each day.

You should also spend more time talking with people. Decades of research has shown time and time again that people who keep an active social life enjoy a more healthy memory than others who spend most of their time alone.

You can improve working memory until you are in tip top shape. Don’t forget that it is also extremely important to just keep your mind working all day long. Don’t just chill out in front of the television or computer all day long and expect to have a superior memory – you have to work for it.

Two Common Test For Dementia

April 23rd, 2010

Dementia is a group of conditions that can sometimes be a part of the aging process. If you have notice that a loved one has started acting a little strange, began saying strange things or they just aren’t themselves anymore, then you should seek the help of a doctor who may perform one or more tests for dementia.

It is common for a blood sample to be taken before any tests for dementia are administered. This is used to rule out other possible causes of strange behavior. Different chemical deficiencies can often the be the reason behind adults acting ‘funny’. Commonly, irregular levels of potassium or magnesium can cause someone to act a bit strange.

Once other causes have been ruled out, the doctor may perform a memory field test. They may tell the patient to remember three random things. For instance, they may ask a patient to remember: football, bedspreads and televisions. Then they will conduct a series of short questions that will have nothing to do with dementia. After a few questions they will then ask the patient to recall the three things that they were asked to remember.

If they have trouble remembering all three things, it does not automatically mean that they are suffering from dementia. There are all kinds of reasons that an elderly person may have an episode of memory loss. So, they would most likely perform one of the other more intense tests for dementia – possibly a CAT scan. A CAT scan will allow doctors to see inside of the patients head so they can conduct further observations of the brain.

It is important to seek out qualified professionals to perform tests for dementia. If you have a feeling like a loved one may be suffering from the condition, you should not wait to check up on the possibility, because dementia shares many of the same symptoms as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease.