Many a time I have asked my other half if he thinks I am losing the plot, or at the early stages of Alzheimer’s. I don’t say this lightly. I can easily walk into a room and completely forget what I wanted to do. I often take a photo of where I parked the car. And most things are called 'thingy-me-bobs'... He seems to think I am fine, just dappy, but it does raise the question: "When is forgetting normal, and when is it not?"
I listened to a brilliant Ted talk by Lisa Genova: What you can do to prevent Alzheimer's | TED Talk a neuroscientist and author of "Still Alice". She talks about the daunting reality of Alzheimer's disease, which despite years of research, still has no cure. But she asks (and answers) if there is a way to change the course of our brain's destiny?
Not Everything Is Early Onset Alzheimer's
1. Forgetting Where You Parked: Normal vs. Alzheimer's
We've all misplaced our keys or momentarily forgotten where we parked. These lapses are part of our daily lives and usually result from not paying attention. However, in Alzheimer's, forgetting reaches a disorienting level. Imagine standing in front of your car, not recognizing it as yours or wondering how you got there. Alzheimer's doesn't just misplace objects; it erases the familiarity of our surroundings.
2. Forgetting Names and Words: Quirk or Warning Sign?
That frustrating tip-of-the-tongue moment is a common experience, often involving names or specific words. It becomes concerning when these struggles intensify, especially with everyday nouns like "pen" or "spoon."
3. Misplacing Objects: Absentmindedness or Something More?
Losing keys occasionally is ordinary, but Alzheimer's takes it a step further. It's not merely misplacing items; it's finding them in bizarre locations like the refrigerator and questioning their purpose.
4. Forgetting Routine Activities: Muscle Memory vs. Memory Loss
Our muscle memory often preserves routine tasks. Imagine making your morning coffee, a ritual ingrained in your daily life. Now picture standing in front of the coffee machine, utterly baffled, unable to recall the steps. Alzheimer's disrupts the familiarity of our most basic activities, leaving us lost in the tasks we once performed effortlessly.
Good News
Ok, so I will go with the ‘dappy’ diagnosis. However, Alzheimer’s is a very real threat, but there is good news. Our brains are incredibly adaptable, and the choices we make in our everyday lives can significantly impact their health and resilience. It turns out that the lifestyle decisions we make, often considered unrelated to our cognitive well-being, play a crucial role in the battle against Alzheimer's disease.
Things We Can Do Now:
1. Deep Sleep: A Cleansing Powerhouse
During deep sleep, our brains undergo a remarkable cleansing process. Glial cells, the brain's janitors, rinse cerebral spinal fluid throughout our neural networks. This process clears away the metabolic waste that accumulates during our waking hours. Think of it as a power cleanse for the brain. Adequate, restorative sleep not only rejuvenates our bodies but also helps clear away the clutter that can lead to the formation of amyloid plaques, a hallmark associated with Alzheimer's
2. Cardiovascular Health: A Heartfelt Connection to Brain Health
Our heart health and brain health are intricately linked. Conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol not only pose risks to our cardiovascular system but also increase the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's. Engaging in regular aerobic exercise, whether it's brisk walking, swimming, or dancing, enhances blood circulation, delivering vital oxygen and nutrients to our brains. This increased blood flow stimulates the production of chemicals that support the growth of new neurons, strengthening the neural connections that form our cognitive reserve.
3. Mental Stimulation: Building Cognitive Fortresses
Our brains thrive on stimulation. Engaging in mentally challenging activities, such as learning new skills, or delving into thought-provoking literature, creates new neural pathways. These intricate networks of interconnected synapses act as fortresses, guarding against the assaults of Alzheimer's. The more intellectually active we are, the more fortified our cognitive reserve becomes, which may provide a robust defence against memory loss and cognitive decline.
4. Embracing New Experiences: Fuel for Neural Growth
Stepping out of our comfort zones and embracing novel experiences is akin to feeding our brains with essential nutrients. Traveling to new places, meeting diverse people, or taking up creative hobbies stimulate the brain's plasticity, the ability to form new connections. By exposing ourselves to a variety of experiences, we encourage the growth of fresh synapses, reinforcing our cognitive reserve and bolstering our resilience against Alzheimer's.
Looking After the Thingy-Me-Bob Upstairs
We don’t need to turn looking after our brains into another full-time job. A walk, something interesting to learn, time with other people and making room for sleep are practical places to start. They aren’t a guarantee against Alzheimer’s, but they are worthwhile ways to look after ourselves. NHS
(If looking after yourself is starting to feel like hard work, you might also enjoy reading When Did Health Become So Complicated?)
If you’re worried about your memory, though, don’t let a reassuring blog post, or an affectionate “you’re just dappy”, put you off speaking to your GP. You don’t have to wait until you’re standing baffled in front of the coffee machine to ask for help.
As for me, I’ll carry on taking a photo of where I’ve parked. Provided, of course, I remember to take the photo.
Photo by Patrice Audet on Unsplash
