Normal memory loss, dementia, or Alzheimer’s?

Normal memory loss, dementia, or Alzheimer’s?As we grow older, all parts of our bodies experience changes, including our brains. Forgetfulness is a common part of aging, and everyone experiences mild memory lapses from time to time. For example, we forget where we left things, people’s names, or even appointments. These are typically a normal part of aging. However, if memory problems become more frequent or severe, a doctor should be consulted for evaluation. If symptoms progress to dementia, it can make it difficult to live independently and manage daily activities.

Signs that memory impairment may be more significant include:

  • Asking the same questions over and over.
  • Becoming increasingly confused about time, people, and places.
  • Getting lost in places you used to know well.
  • Having trouble following directions.
  • Not caring for yourself properly—for example, not bathing regularly, eating poorly, and acting in an unsafe manner.

 

Everyone ages differently. How we age is affected by our genetic factors, which we cannot change, but also by things we have more control over, such as our lifestyle and the environment we live in. Eating a healthy diet, being physically active, and maintaining good social relationships can help us lead a healthy life and decrease our risk of developing conditions (including mental impairment) as we age. So, how do you distinguish between normal memory changes and dementia? And where does Alzheimer’s disease fit in?

 

MEMORY LOSS

Memory loss can progress through different stages, from age-related memory impairment and mild cognitive impairment to dementia. The chart below explains the differences between these distinctions.

Memory Impairment

Age-associated memory

impairment (considered a

normal part of aging)

Memory difficulties:

  • Are not serious enough to disrupt daily routines
  • Do not affect the ability to complete tasks as usual
  • Cause some difficulty learning and remembering new things
  • Are not caused by an underlying medical condition
Mild cognitive impairmentMemory difficulties:

  • Are not serious enough to disrupt daily routines
  • May include other symptoms such as disorientation and difficulty speaking
DementiaMemory difficulties:

  • Are significant enough to disrupt daily routines
  • Make learning new things more challenging
  • Make it hard to complete tasks that were once familiar
  • Cause others to notice changes in behaviours or abilities

 

WHAT IS DEMENTIA?

Dementia is not a single disease. It is a general term that describes a group of symptoms associated with various underlying conditions. These symptoms cause changes in thinking, memory, and reasoning skills that are serious enough to affect daily life, the ability to function independently, plus behaviours, feelings, and relationships. Some forms of dementia can be reversed; others are irreversible.

The brain is comprised of distinct regions, each of which is responsible for different functions (such as memory, judgment, and movements). When cells in a certain region are damaged, that region cannot carry out its functions properly.

 

WHAT IS ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE?

Although many people think dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are the same thing, they are not. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 60% to 80% of all dementia cases. Increasing age is the greatest known risk factor for this type of dementia. When it affects people younger than 65 years of age, it is known as younger-onset Alzheimer’s or early-onset Alzheimer’s.

 

Alzheimer’s changes typically begin in the brain region that affects learning, and the most common early symptom is difficulty remembering newly-learned information. However, many people experience trouble remembering things sometimes, so having this symptom is does not confirm that a person has Alzheimer’s disease.

Important components of Alzheimer’s are two abnormal structures that can form in the brain, called plaques and tangles. Although most people develop some plaques and tangles as they age, people with Alzheimer’s develop far more and they develop in a predictable pattern. While scientists don’t know exactly how plaques and tangles play a role in Alzheimer’s disease, they do believe that they act by blocking communication among nerve cells.

 

SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIA

The symptoms of dementia vary depending on the type of dementia a person has. The table below explains the symptoms associated with various types of dementia.

 

Dementia Symptoms

Type of DementiaTypical Symptoms
Alzheimer’s diseaseProblems with short-term memory, paying bills, preparing meals, remembering appointments, getting lost in familiar places
Fronto-temporal dementiaDifficulty planning or organizing activities, having trouble communicating with others, acting inappropriately in social or work situations
Lewy body dementiaMemory loss, problems with movement or balance (such as stiffness or trembling), daytime sleepiness, confusion, sleep disturbances, staring spells, visual hallucinations
Mixed dementiaSeveral types of dementia can affect a person at the same time, and this can affect which symptoms the person will experience
Vascular dementiaSymptoms vary depending on the part of the brain that is affected, and they may overlap with symptoms of other types of dementia.

 

TREATING DEMENTIA

Currently, there are no treatments that can reverse cognitive decline and cure irreversible types of dementia. However, there are treatments that can help manage challenging symptoms and help maintain the quality of life for individuals living with dementia. Medications that have been approved in Canada for the treatment of dementia include donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine, which improve communication between brain cells, and memantine which helps protect brain cells and improve their function. The medications selected for each patient will depend on the type of dementia the person has, how severe the symptoms are, and how quickly the disease is progressing.

Advances in the treatment of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease continue to evolve, offering reasons for optimism about the future of prevention and treatment. For instance, two newer biologic medicines, lecanemab and donanemab are currently under review by Health Canada with the goal of slowing cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Additional treatments like these are expected to emerge in the coming years.

If you have any questions or concerns about any of the symptoms mentioned that you or a loved one may be experiencing, it is important to speak with your healthcare team. Early intervention may help reduce the progression of the disease and improve the person’s individual’s quality of life. If medications are prescribed, your pharmacist can provide guidance on how to take them and help you manage any potential side effects. They can also organize your medicines into blister packs to help with memory concerns and reduce your chances of missed doses or errors. Speak to your pharmacist to learn how we can help support your needs.

6 Ways Exercise Benefits Your Mental Health

We all know the physical benefits of exercise. It helps keep excess pounds at bay, increases stamina, strengthens our heart, keeps arteries clear, and wards off illness. But did you know that exercise can improve the structure and functionality of our brains, as well as improving our overall mental health?

There’s no denying exercise should be a key part of any strategy to combat depression, anxiety, and the general stress of daily life, but “green exercise” in particular, such as cycling, brings with it added psychological health benefits compared to exercising in synthetic environments such as gyms!

Recent studies suggest that exercising in nature gives a quick and significant boost to our mental health. Researchers analyzed studies encompassing more than 1,200 participants involved in outdoor activities such as cycling, walking, horseback riding, and fishing. They found that outdoor exercise improved mood and self-esteem significantly, with the biggest effects coming within just five minutes. The study also found that the trials also showed an improvement in mental well-being.

Compared with exercising indoors, exercising in natural environments is associated with greater feelings of revitalization, increased energy and enjoyment, together with decreases in tension, confusion, anger, and depression. Here are six interesting ways exercise can positively affect our brains.

1. Improves cognitive functioning

The overlooked cousin of “grey matter,” white matter is comprised of millions of bundles of nerve fibers acting as the computer cables that connect various parts of the brain. Research has shown than exercise enhances white matter integrity and improves conductivity resulting in better cognitive functioning.

2. Promotes brain health

Intense exercise results in elevated levels of brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) – an important protein that that promotes brain health and memory. BDNF prevents the death of existing brain cells and supports cognitive function. Low levels of BDNF have been linked to obesity, depression and even schizophrenia. Therefore maintaining satisfactory levels of BDNF results in optimal neurotransmission and potentially prevents a myriad of physical as well as mental diseases.

3. Improves memory and reasoning

Exercise acts directly on the body by stimulating physiological changes such as reductions in insulin resistance and inflammation and by encouraging production of chemicals that affect the growth of new blood vessels in the brain, and the overall health of new brain cells. Studies show that the parts of the brain that control thinking and memory are larger in volume in people who exercise than in people who don’t. Exercise also boosts memory and thinking indirectly by improving mood and sleep.

4. Reduces anxiety and stress

Exercise is a natural and effective anti-anxiety treatment. It produced endorphins—chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers. Scientists have found that regular participation in aerobic exercise has been shown to decrease overall levels of tension, elevate and stabilize mood. Even five minutes of aerobic exercise can stimulate anti-anxiety effects. Physical activity helps to relax muscles and relieve tension in the body and also improves the ability to sleep, which in turn reduces stress.

5. Acts as a natural antidepressant

Studies show that exercise can treat mild to moderate depression as effectively as antidepressant medication—but without the side-effects.  It promotes changes in the brain, including neural growth, reduced inflammation and new activity patterns that promote feelings of calm and well-being. It also increases blood flow to the brain, releases endorphins and other neurotransmitters, like serotonin, which makes you feel good.

6. Increases self-esteem

Regular activity is an investment in YOU. When it becomes habit, it increases feelings of self-worth, achievement and make you feel stronger. It also helps you feel more confident in your physical appearance too!

And if you still aren’t convinced that getting outside is worth the effort then consider this: Science also suggests that mental health may be an even stronger predictor of life expectancy than physical health or even heavy smoking. If we’ve got you motivated, throw on some shoes and head outside this summer!


Written by Lorna Allen, CMHA BC