Still struggling to get back to a work-brain function regularity after being off for 2 ½ weeks. I thought about a recent article one of our writers, Lisa Rademakers, did for our Good Health Starts Here newsletters on the brain function. I found it interesting and felt like it was talking about me. I decided to put excerpts here (with my comments) for all of you.

Don’t forget to exercise your mind (my note: I am trying daily)

A recent study in the Annals of Internal Medicine estimates that 5.4 million people over age 70 have mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, we begin to lose brain cells in our 20s and our body starts to make less of the chemicals our brain cells need to work. ( My note: great, glad to hear this since my 20’s are long gone)

‘“As we age, we are increasingly likely to experience some degree of memory loss,’” says Barbara Pilgram, director of mental health and wellness programs at Erickson.

“We ask ourselves, ‘Where did I leave my wallet?’ or ‘Did I turn off the oven before I left the house?’ We may go from one room to another to find something only to realize we forgot what we were looking for by the time we arrive. (my note: I do this all the time!)

“But MCI extends beyond minor memory lapses,” she adds. “We may have difficulty learning a new card game or recalling information we recently read.”

Use it or lose it
“You can keep your brain healthy by being in good general health and by being physically fit. You should do activities like crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and practice memorization of poems or speeches,” says Elliott Kroger, M.D., Erickson Health physician and medical director at Sedgebrook, an Erickson-built and -managed community in Lincolnshire, Ill.

Pilgram agrees: “Recent research suggests that we may have more control over age-related memory loss than we ever thought possible. Lifestyle changes such as brain-healthy diets, physical exercise, stress management, and brain fitness activities may help protect the brain against more serious cognitive [thought and memory] decline.” (my comment, I am doing all of this!)

Pilgram is currently part of a team that is launching a Brain Fitness Program at Monarch Landing in Naperville, Ill., and Cedar Crest in Pompton Plains, N.J.. Participants work on a computer for an hour a day, five days a week, for eight weeks to speed up auditory (hearing) processing, improve memory, and enhance overall cognitive function. In total, 177 people have signed up for just 72 openings. The waiting list continues to grow.

Developed by scientists at Posit Science Corporation, a clinical trial with 524 participants found the Brain Fitness Program improved auditory processing by 131%, improved memory by an average of ten years (participants reached processing speeds typical of people ten years younger), and three out of four people who used the program reported positive changes in everyday life.

Previous research by UCLA in collaboration with the Erickson Foundation found adults age 62 to 93 who attended a memory fitness class experienced, in many cases, significant improvement in memory and reduced concerns about memory impairment.

Pilgram will help to launch a classroom-based memory fitness pilot program in nine Erickson-operated communities for adults who are concerned about their memory. Developed by Gary Small, M.D., the director of the Center for Memory and Aging at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the program emphasizes four things: memory exercises, stress reduction, physical activity, and a brain-healthy diet.

Identify the cause
In addition to aging, Pilgram says, “Avoiding social interaction and avoiding mentally challenging activities can contribute to memory loss.” (My comment: that’s why being off of work and doing very little slowed down my old brain).

Medical conditions can also cause forgetfulness—including depression, strokes, medication side effects, head injury, alcoholism, dehydration, not eating enough healthy foods (too few vitamins and minerals), and thyroid problems.

Tips to cope
While Pilgram emphasizes exercises designed to improve concentration and memory, there are things you can do on an everyday basis to cope with forgetfulness or MCI.

Have bills paid directly from your bank account to make sure they don’t slip your mind, and label drawers to help you find things you have stored. Also, use a calendar as a reminder of commitments, and don’t forget to schedule time each day to exercise your mind. ”
 
So, what are you doing to help your brain?