Senior Scene: From the HCSCC
By
Suzanne Hopkins-
New class starting Nov. 5
The Silver Liners Line Dancers will offer a new class for beginners on Thursdays from noon-12:30 p.m., right before the regular Line Dancing practice. Come on in and learn the steps and stay to watch the more experienced dancers. You’ll be joining them in no time. Cost is $1 per class.
Alzheimer’s Disease or Senior Moments?
Loss of memory is a great fear among older adults.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, every 71 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s. Ten million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer’s disease in their lifetimes. Cases of dementia will almost double every 20 years, reaching 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 million in 2050, according to the 2009 World Alzheimer Report from Alzheimer’s Disease International.
The brain ages just like the rest of the body. Starting at age 50, most people develop some signs of a brain that is slowing down. The aging brain has more trouble retrieving information and doing more than one thing at a time, and at times, it can forget a name or other details. In most cases, the occasional memory lapse is nothing to worry about, but some people develop a more serious memory problem, which puts them at a high risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
The Alzheimer’s Association provides a list of the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease and also notes the differences between normal, age-related memory changes and Alzheimer’s symptoms:
Age-related memory changes include:
• Forgetting part of an experience;
• Often remembering later;
• Usually able to follow written or spoken directions;
• Usually able to use notes;
• Usually able to care for self; and feeling sad or moody at times.
Alzheimer symptoms include:
• Forgetting whole experiences;
• Rarely remembering later;
• Gradually unable to follow written or spoken directions;
• Gradually unable to use notes;
• Gradually unable to care for self; and,
• Rapid mood changes for no apparent reason.
Studies have linked age-related memory problems to conditions common in midlife: sleep deprivation, medical conditions such as a thyroid problem or a history of mild head injuries. Certain medications, such as older classes of antidepressants, anti-diuretics and antihistamines, also can block a critical brain chemical from working to form memories.
Dementia is not an inevitable fact of aging. Older people can combat the effects of an aging brain both by adopting a healthy, active lifestyle and simply by learning something new. Some of the strongest evidence links brain health to heart health, so strategies to lower blood pressure and cholesterol and avoid heart disease, stroke and diabetes can help delay and prevent memory problems. Learning anything new also stimulates the brain and creates new connections between the neurons.
If an individual is worried about his memory changes, there are physician-administered tests available to establish if memory problems are signs of Alzheimer’s disease. While most memory problems are not serious, an early diagnosis provides the best opportunities for treatment, support and future planning.[[In-content Ad]]
The Silver Liners Line Dancers will offer a new class for beginners on Thursdays from noon-12:30 p.m., right before the regular Line Dancing practice. Come on in and learn the steps and stay to watch the more experienced dancers. You’ll be joining them in no time. Cost is $1 per class.
Alzheimer’s Disease or Senior Moments?
Loss of memory is a great fear among older adults.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, every 71 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s. Ten million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer’s disease in their lifetimes. Cases of dementia will almost double every 20 years, reaching 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 million in 2050, according to the 2009 World Alzheimer Report from Alzheimer’s Disease International.
The brain ages just like the rest of the body. Starting at age 50, most people develop some signs of a brain that is slowing down. The aging brain has more trouble retrieving information and doing more than one thing at a time, and at times, it can forget a name or other details. In most cases, the occasional memory lapse is nothing to worry about, but some people develop a more serious memory problem, which puts them at a high risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
The Alzheimer’s Association provides a list of the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease and also notes the differences between normal, age-related memory changes and Alzheimer’s symptoms:
Age-related memory changes include:
• Forgetting part of an experience;
• Often remembering later;
• Usually able to follow written or spoken directions;
• Usually able to use notes;
• Usually able to care for self; and feeling sad or moody at times.
Alzheimer symptoms include:
• Forgetting whole experiences;
• Rarely remembering later;
• Gradually unable to follow written or spoken directions;
• Gradually unable to use notes;
• Gradually unable to care for self; and,
• Rapid mood changes for no apparent reason.
Studies have linked age-related memory problems to conditions common in midlife: sleep deprivation, medical conditions such as a thyroid problem or a history of mild head injuries. Certain medications, such as older classes of antidepressants, anti-diuretics and antihistamines, also can block a critical brain chemical from working to form memories.
Dementia is not an inevitable fact of aging. Older people can combat the effects of an aging brain both by adopting a healthy, active lifestyle and simply by learning something new. Some of the strongest evidence links brain health to heart health, so strategies to lower blood pressure and cholesterol and avoid heart disease, stroke and diabetes can help delay and prevent memory problems. Learning anything new also stimulates the brain and creates new connections between the neurons.
If an individual is worried about his memory changes, there are physician-administered tests available to establish if memory problems are signs of Alzheimer’s disease. While most memory problems are not serious, an early diagnosis provides the best opportunities for treatment, support and future planning.[[In-content Ad]]