Memory and Aging - Prevention and Treatment

Prevention and Treatment

Various actions have been suggested to prevent memory loss or even improve memory.

The Mayo Clinic has suggested seven steps: stay mentally active, socialize regularly, get organized, eat a healthy diet, include physical activity in your daily routine, and manage chronic conditions. Because some of the causes of memory loss include medications, stress, depression, heart disease, alcohol abuse, thyroid problems, vitamin B12 deficiency, not drinking enough water, and not eating nutritiously, fixing those problems could be a simple, effective way to slow down dementia. Some say that exercise is the best way to prevent memory problems, because that would increase blood flow to the brain and perhaps help new brain cells grow. A healthy diet is also critical, partly because it has been demonstrated that healthy eaters are much less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.

The treatment will depend on the cause of memory loss, but various drugs to treat Alzheimer’s disease have been suggested in recent years. There are four drugs currently approved by the FDA for the treatment of Alzheimer’s, and they all act on the cholinergic system: Donepezil (Aricept), Galantamine (Reminyl), Rivastigmine (Exelon), and Tacrine(Cognex). Although these medications are not the cure for Alzheimer’s, symptoms may be reduced for up to eighteen months for mild or moderate dementia. These drugs do not forestall the ultimate decline to full Alzheimer's.

Also, modality is important in determining the strength of the memory. For instance, auditory creates stronger memory abilities than visual. This is shown by the higher recency and primacy effects of an auditory recall test compared to that of a visual test. Research has shown that auditory training, through instrumental musical activity or practice, can help preserve memory abilities as one ages. Specifically, in Hanna-Pladdy and McKay's experiment, they tested and found that the # of years of musical training, all things equal, leads to a better performance in non-verbal memory and increases the life span on cognition abilities in one's advanced years.

Another important aspect that helps memory as one ages is spacing. Spacing improves and facilitates the inductive and repetition learning, while mass learning is not helpful in improving memory (which is contrary to what the participants thought).

The use of memory aids is helpful in fighting cognitive signs of aging. Keeping a "to do" list will help assure that certain tasks are completed and not forgotten. Establishing day-to-day routines will make everyday tasks, such as taking medication, easier to remember if they occur at the same time every day. Putting everything it its rightful place will help to avoid confusion. Keeping important items in a place where they can always be seen will save you time when they're needed. Using simple associations to remember names, events, or objects can make recalling things much easier. Finally, keeping a calendar to display important dates and times will make remembering much easier.

The easiest way to prevent memory decline in elderhood is to stay active throughout your 40's and 50's. Being mentally active and learning new skills during middle adulthood and as you age is speculated to lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease. By performing new tasks and learning new skills, the brain is forced to focus more than it would on a task in which you have already mastered. In essence, acquiring new skills is a way to exercise your brain. Those who enjoy learning and want to stay mentally active can participate in a new program hosted at Columbia University, as well as 117 other colleges and universities across the country. This program is focused on the elderly and allows them to take classes in academic courses as well as courses involving exercising and skills without the worry of reading, papers, homework, and grades.

New research has identified specific impaired neurons within the human brain that when stimulated, can be recovered. Through studies with fruit flies, it was discovered by Professor Ron Davis that, "...once the appropriate neurons are identified in people, in principle at least, one could potentially develop drugs to hit those neurons and rescue those memories affected by the aging process." Research such as this, is bringing us one step closer to developing preventative methods and drugs that can reverse and slow the cognitive declines associated with aging.

Scientists and nutritionists have linked the consumption of certain foods with improved memory and the prevention of Alzheimer's and age-related memory decline.

In her 2010 publication on Alzheimer's, Jean Carper suggests many food practices to prevent the onset of this disease. She encourages individuals to eat antioxidant-rich foods, choline-rich foods, curry, fatty fish, folic acid, nuts, and vinegar; to drink juices, coffee, tea, and red wine (while practicing moderation with alcohol in general); to avoid sugar; and to follow a low-glycemic index diet and/or Mediterranean diet.

A 2011 study suggests that increasing Vitamin C and Vitamin E in diets can increase verbal memory functions. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that can protect brain tissues from inflammation and oxidation damage. Foods rich in Vitamin C include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, grapefruit, green and red peppers, kale, kiwi, mango, oranges, papaya, pineapple, strawberries, and tomato juice. Vitamin E can protect brain cell membranes from free radicals. Foods rich in Vitamin E include almonds, canola oil, grape seed oil, hazelnuts, papaya, safflower oil, sunflower seeds, and wheat germ oil. Vitamin E is also prevalent in leafy greens, including arugula, beet greens, collard greens, kale, mustard greens, rapini, spinach, and Swiss chard. There are conflicting opinions as to whether such vitamins must be consumed in foods or if dietary supplements are also effective.

2011 and 2012 studies suggest that folic acid and Vitamin B12 may also help prevent memory decline. Foods rich in Vitamin B12 include beef liver, clams, dairy products, fish, poultry, and meat.

Diets high in saturated fats and refined sugars have been associated with increased Alzheimer's risk, while low saturated fat and low-glycemic index diets have been associated with decreased Alzheimer's risk. Lean meats, poultry, and low-fat dairy products characterize a low-saturated-fat diet, as well as avoidance of butter in favor of unsaturated fats, such as canola oil, grape seed oil, olive oil, and sunflower oil. Foods with a low-glycemic index include apples, bran cereal, brown rice, citrus fruits, grain breads with seeds, grapes, legumes, milk, nuts, pasta, pears, steel-cut and large-flake oats, sweet potatoes, wild rice, and yogurt. Omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish, such as herring, mackerel, salmon, sardines, and trout, can also improve memory functions.