Everyone has heard about drugs having side effects, but sometimes it’s difficult to know just how to sort out their importance and what to do if you experience them. Side effects are also among the reasons people cite for stopping medication, which contributes to lack of compliance. Next month we’ll look at side effects and discuss some methods of coping with them.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting one in 11 Canadians over 65. While there is no cure, some medications can slow the mental decline associated with Alzheimer’s. And exercising your mind — as you would any part of your body — will help keep your mind active.
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With our aging population, it is estimated that more than one million Canadians will be affected by Alzheimer’s over the next 25 years.
Some risk factors have been identified, including older age. More women than men seem affected, but this may be because women live longer than men. If one or more of your family has Alzheimer’s disease, your risk also increases. This may be due to genetic factors, but also could be because of environment and diet.
Alzheimer’s disease seems to increase with uncontrolled high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and poorly controlled diabetes, which all may be linked to poorer circulation. Obviously, you want to manage these conditions well.
Head injury, smoking, and drug or alcohol abuse may contribute, and it’s always a good idea to avoid these factors!
No One Is Immune To Alzheimer’s
The theory of Alzheimer’s disease involves changes in the functioning of your brain. Think of your brain like the wiring in your home, carrying electricity throughout the various rooms and delivering power to outlets and light switches.
With Alzheimer’s patients, levels of critical neurochemicals are too low, perhaps because not enough are produced or because they are depleted too fast. In your home, this would be the same as if you didn’t have enough electricity running through the wiring to make the lightbulb glow.
Complicating these decreased levels are “tangles” and “plaques” which are actual physical changes in the nervous system that impede the flow of neurochemicals.
Unfortunately, there is no laboratory test that diagnoses Alzheimer’s disease, and the diagnosis is usually made when forgetfulness impairs daily functioning.
Because the decline in mental capacity is gradual, it may not be noticed by family and friends. Instead, they may simply attribute the symptoms to normal aging.
As well, people often defer seeking medical assistance for the symptoms because they have a concern about being placed in a nursing home.
The most common symptoms include memory loss (especially short-term memory loss), difficulty performing familiar tasks, language problems, time and place disorientation, poor or decreased judgement, problems with abstract thinking, misplacing items, and mood or behaviour changes.
A short quiz consisting of several questions is typically administered to identify these symptoms, and a rating system is used to compare responses to the average. Early diagnosis is key because the available therapies can slow progression and improve quality of life.
The cholinesterase inhibitors are the most commonly used. They slow the breakdown of neurochemicals and thereby result in higher levels in the brain.
However, research has also shown that if you exercise your brain, your risk for Alzheimer’s disease is less, and it’s never to late to start.
Start with small changes such as using your other hand to brush or teeth or comb your hair. Crosswords, sudokus, word puzzles, cards, charades, board games, and jigsaw puzzles will keep your mind active, but you also want to challenge your mind, for example by taking up a new hobby, signing up for a educational course, learning to play music, attending cooking lessons, or learning a new language.
But don’t forget simple activities that exercise your mind, such as reading a book, writing letters, keeping a journal, or doing math in your head.
Mind games are ideal to keep your mind active and healthy, so choose some that you will enjoy. And, remember that the adage “use it, or lose it” is true when you consider your memory.
Marie Berry is a lawyer/pharmacist interested in health care and education.
