Menopause And Memory – Is There A Connection? April 19, 2010 No Comments
Women who are approaching menopause should be asking questions about what they will soon experience. Something that they are likely to come across is the possible link between menopause and memory decline. If you are in this situation, you should know a little bit more about the truth of what is happening.
When a woman’s sex hormones begin to decline, they enter a period called menopause that signals the end of their childbearing abilities. This state is often coupled with many different emotions and feelings. Women are unsure what, exactly, will be happening to their bodies.
A study performed at the University of Rochester’s Memory Disorders Clinic in 2006 reveals that pre-menopausal women’s stress about possible memory loss may be all in their head. The study followed 24 women, ages 40 to 60 who were approaching menopause and memory, mood and personality tests were given to them. By the time the women reached menopause, many of them said that they believed they were experiencing lapses in memory. But based on the ongoing testing, only one of them ever experienced any actual memory decline.
Why would they feel like their memory had decreased? Well, 15 of the 24 women experienced mild-to-moderate anxiety. When we are feeling anxiety, we tend to have a bleak outlook about things. This is common for women going through menopause – the fact that they are experiencing changes in their body for the first time since puberty often causes some discomfort and confusion.
The best thing that you can do is be totally informed about what will happen to your body when you enter the menopause phase of your life. Your body will change, but it is a completely natural process that can be treated to some degree. You should speak with your doctor about any other concerns that you may have concerning menopause and memory.
Treating Amnesia Memory Loss April 18, 2010 2 Comments
Amnesia memory loss can be suffered because of any number of reasons. But the most common is physical injury. The way that the memory loss is treated will depend on why it is being experienced in the first place.
Amnesia memory loss will most likely be treated by a trained psychologist that will attempt to make the patient connect with the memories that are still inside of their head. It is important for a psychologist to understand exactly why the patient is suffering. To gather this information, they will often interview friends and family members of the patient. From time to time, it may even be necessary for hypnosis to be involved in treatment.
However, patients can sometimes experience amnesia that is so severe that there is no hope in recovering lost memories. There are also instances when Alzheimer’s Disease patients have experienced amnesia like memory loss. This kind of damage is often permanent and irreversible. The best thing for doctors to do in a situation like this, is to attempt to stop the spread of further memory loss.
It is important to understand the differences between short term memory problems and amnesia memory loss. Short term problems can be the result of stress or it can be a result of getting older. You would not want to treat this condition in the same way as amnesia – which occurs when the actual memories are affected by something. It can be the result of physical injury or sometimes the result of mental defense mechanisms that can literally erase painful memories.
Amnesia memory loss is a serious subject. It does not have to relate to recent memories. Sometimes people find that they are unable to recall events that happened several years ago and the can still be referred to as amnesia.
Statins, Memory Loss – What’s The Connection April 17, 2010 No Comments
Statins, memory loss and controversy seem to go hand in hand. Anytime that there is a study done to disprove the fact that statins cause memory loss, there is another study that shows evidence that there is a connection. So, what is the truth about statins in relation to memory?
First, let’s get a grasp on what statins are. They are a type of drug that is used to treat high cholesterol. Those medications that hear advertised on the television talking about lowering ‘bad’ cholesterol are statins. Zocor and Lipitor are two commercially process statin medications.
I Understand Statins, Memory Fits In Somehow?
There is a growing body of debate as to whether statins cause memory loss in patients with prescriptions. There have been many reports of this all over the United States. But, there is very little, if any, medical evidence to show that statins are the cause of any type of memory problems. As of right now, the medical community seems to firmly stand behind the use of statins in the treatment of cholesterol problems.
There is also an increasing amount of research that suggests that the elderly may actually experience an increase in memory because of statins. A new study done at the University of Michigan School of Public Health shows that elderly people who were prescribed statins were about half as likely to show evidence of memory loss due to dementia as their counterparts who were not prescribed any type of statin drug.
You should feel comfortable and secure discussing any or all of your concerns with a doctor who is familiar with statins. Memory loss is a serious subject – if you have cholesterol problems and you believe that a statin prescription is in your near future, it might be a good idea for you to find out all that you can.