NOT ALL MEMORY LOSS ALZHEIMER’S
O ne of the biggest fears as we age is memory loss. As soon
as you notice you’re beginning to forget things, it’s always a
good idea to mention this to your doctor. 3. Sleep issues – Sleep deprivation, both in quantity
and quality of sleep, can severely affect memory and the
ability to retrieve information.
Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that causes problems
with memory, thinking, and behaviour. According to the
Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s accounts for 60-80% of
dementia cases. It worsens over time, but there are treatments
that can temporarily slow the worsening of symptoms and
improve the quality of life. 4. Thyroid disease – Those affected with hypothyroidism
will most often suffer with memory loss at certain times.
However, not all memory loss means you’re getting
Alzheimer’s. There are reversible forms of memory loss, and
there are causes for it:
1. Depression and stress – People who suffer with
depression have most likely experienced moments of
forgetfulness and disorientation. And just as with depression,
stress can cause temporary memory loss. When someone is
tense and distracted, the ability to remember even minor
things can be affected.
2. Medication – Both prescription and over-the-counter
medications can cause memory loss, such is the case with
antidepressants, anti-anxiety pills, some pain medication
after surgery, and even antihistamines, sleeping pills, and
muscle relaxants. Tobacco and alcohol use can also have a
negative effect on one’s memory, especially with over-use
and when combined with stress.
5. Nutritional deficiencies – High-quality fats and
proteins are important for proper brain function. A person
who is on a strict diet or omitting certain necessary nutrients
– such as vitamin B1 or B12, is more likely to suffer with
memory loss.
Finding help
You are more likely to be the first to realize you’re suffering
with some form of memory loss. Don’t wait until a larger issue
occurs. Speak with your doctor, and also with a nutritionist or
naturopath who can best explain what you should be eating for
proper brain function, illness prevention, and good health.•
“One day you will be
just a memory for some people.
Do your best to be a good one.”
– Anonymous
Ever play ‘Sudoku’?
A Sudoku puzzle is defined as a logic-based, number-
placement puzzle.
The objective is to fill a 9x9 grid so that each column, each row,
and each of the nine 3x3 boxes (also called blocks or regions)
contains the digits from 1 to 9.
A cell is the smallest block in the game. A row ,
column and region consists of 9 cells and the whole game
consists of 81 cells.
Su (meaning ‘number’) and Doku (meaning ‘single’), but
it was invented in Switzerland by an 18th century Swiss
mathematician.
Sudoku is considered one of the best memory and focus
improvement games there are. Try it! Sudoku books are
available in large print, easy mode, for sale at many
local dollar stores.
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