As we age, our brains change, but Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are not an inevitable part of aging. In fact, up to 40% of dementia cases may be prevented or delayed. It helps to understand what’s normal and what’s not when it comes to brain health.
Normal brain aging may mean slower processing speeds and more trouble multitasking, but routine memory, skills, and knowledge are stable and may even improve with age. It’s normal to occasionally forget recent events such as where you put your keys or the name of the person you just met.
When it might be Lewy Body Dementia
In the United States, 6.2 million people age 65 and older have Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia. People with dementia have symptoms of cognitive decline that interfere with daily life, including disruptions in language, memory, attention, recognition, problem-solving, and decision-making. Signs to watch for include:
- not being able to complete tasks without help.
- trouble naming items or close family members.
- forgetting the function of items.
- repeating questions.
- taking much longer to complete normal tasks.
- misplacing items often.
- being unable to retrace steps and getting lost.
Ten warning signs
If you have one or more of the 10 warning signs, please see your healthcare provider. Early diagnosis gives you the best chance to seek treatment and time to plan for the future.
Seven ways to help maintain your brain health
Studies show that healthy behaviors, which can prevent some kinds of cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, may also reduce your risk for cognitive decline. Although age, genetics, and family history can’t be changed, the Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention, and care suggests that addressing risk factors may prevent or delay up to 40% of dementia cases.
Here’s what you can do:
- Quit smoking. Quitting smoking now may help maintain brain health and can reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related illnesses. Free quitline: 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669).
- Maintain a healthy blood pressure level. Tens of millions of American adults have high blood pressure, and many do not have it under control. Learn the facts.
- Be physically active. CDC studies show physical activity can improve thinking, reduce the risk of depression and anxiety, and help you sleep better. Here are tips to help you get started.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Healthy weight isn’t about short-term dietary changes. Instead, it’s about a lifestyle that includes healthy eating and regular physical activity.
- Get enough sleep. A third of American adults report that they usually get less sleep than the recommended amount. How much sleep do you need? It depends on your age.
- Stay engaged. There are many ways for older adults to get involved in their community.
- Manage blood sugar. Learn how to manage your blood sugar especially if you have diabetes.
Conditions that can mimic dementia
Symptoms of some vitamin deficiencies and medical conditions such as vitamin B12 deficiency, infections, hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), and normal pressure hydrocephalus (a neurological condition caused by the build-up of fluid in the brain) can mimic dementia. Some prescription and over-the-counter medicines can cause dementia-like symptoms. If you have these symptoms, it is important to talk to your healthcare provider to find out if there are any underlying causes for these symptoms.
For more information, see What Is Dementia?
What to do if a loved one is showing symptoms
- Talk with your loved one about seeing a healthcare provider if they are experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer’s dementia to get a brain-health check-up.
- When the timing is right, talk about issues related to safety, including driving and carrying identification. Symptoms of dementia include getting lost in familiar places, difficulty judging distance, determining color or contrast, and reading, which can make driving especially difficult.
- Help your loved one start gathering important documents, such as their advanced healthcare directive or living will, durable power of attorney for health care, and financial or estate planning documents. CDC has a PDF Care Planning Form available to download at no cost.
- Schedule a family meeting. When caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or a related illness, family meetings are important to ensure information is shared, to put care plans in place, and to help divide tasks among family members. Here are some tips and strategies to help plan a productive family meeting that includes setting goals, planning, coordination, and follow-up.
Be empowered to discuss memory problems
More than half of people with memory loss have not talked to their healthcare provider, but that doesn’t have to be you. Get comfortable with starting a dialogue with your healthcare provider if you observe any changes in memory, an increase in confusion, or just if you have any questions. You can also discuss health care planning, management of chronic conditions, and caregiving needs.
South Mountain Memory Care focuses on high-quality, personalized care. South Mountain Memory Care is proud to offer a wide range of resident-focused daily activity programming to our residents. Each neighborhood offers activity space for group and one-on-one activities.
The brand-new building is a stand-alone memory care community, meaning that the entire building, staff, and programs, are designed to serve residents with cognitive issues. To ensure person-centered care and attention, we have accommodations for up to 28 residents. The building is divided into two neighborhoods (wings), each offering 10 private suites and 2 semi-private suites. South Mountain Memory Care is located in the Allentown suburb of Emmaus, Pennsylvania, and is easily accessible from the Lehigh Valley, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. For more information, go to southmountainmemorycare.com.