Memory & Aging: What’s Normal, What’s

NOT

Julie Moorer, R.N University of WA/ Veterans Administration

Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center VA Geriatric Research, Education & Clinical Center ( GRECC)

?

TYPES OF MEMORY Short-term/Working Memory Holds 5 to 9 items I saw my keys on the table I need to pick up milk from the store Tell my husband that John phoned Feed the cat next door Remember a phone number

TYPES OF MEMORY Long-term Memory How to perform tasks driving typing sports

cooking brushing teeth getting dressed

General knowledge vocabulary multiplication tables driving rules table manners principles of politics

Why do I forget where I put my keys but have no trouble remembering things that

happened YEARS ago ??

Why Do We Remember … and Forget ? Attention

Information

Use It, Need It

Short-term Memory

Long-term Memory

Lost

Can’t Find

Why Do We Remember … and Forget ? Information Attention

Normal vs Alzheimer’s Example of “structural” damage associated with Alzheimer’s disease

What’s Normal As We Age ?  Forget names  Get a little more flustered when performing too many tasks at once

 It takes more time and energy to learn new information … it “feels” more effortful

 Total quantity of information that can be

learned in a short period of time is reduced

 Not always able to readily recall information at the time you need it (tip-of-the-tongue)

MEMORY “TIPS”

 FOCUS: pay special attention & concentrate on info

you want to remember. Take time to repeat the info immediately after hearing it. Repetition reinforces the learned material. Don’t try to do 2 things at once… One at a time!

  VISUALIZE what you want to remember  Use RETRIEVAL aids … Where was I?

What day of the week was it? What else was I doing?

 Association (dates): Associate the date you want to recall with a date you already remember: the day BEFORE your b-day, the day AFTER Halloween

 No shame in writing it down!! Let your pad of paper be your memory

What’s NOT Normal As We Age?  Memory changes that affect daily life  Difficulty in planning or solving problems or completing tasks at home/work.

 New problems with words in writing or speaking. i.e. increased word finding or repeating same question over & over.

 Getting lost in familiar surroundings  Family members and friends notice a difference  Poor judgment – ex: money, grooming  Loss of interest in hobbies and usual activities

When to Seek Help 





Symptoms get progressively worse over time Someone expresses concern about his/her memory & concentration Problems with activities of daily living

(finances, keeping appointments, household chores)

Where to Turn & What to Request Consult your primary care for:  

General physical exam Blood tests (CBC, Chem7, folate, liver function, thyroid function, fasting lipids/glucose, vitamin B, urinalysis)



Cognitive testing

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Brain scan ??

Prevention No one can predict who will develop memory problems, but….

…..Certain choices may make memory problems less likely

Many things can affect memory as we age…. Depression/anxiety Stress Medications

Illness…..

Illness…fuel for the fire  Hypertension  Diabetes  High Cholesterol  Sleep Apnea  COPD  Head Injury

 Liver Disease  Kidney Disease  Thyroid Dysfunction  Heart Disease  Malnutrition  Alcohol Abuse  Smoking

Aging, Memory, DIABETES And Yes…

Alzheimer’s Disease ! What’s the Connection ?

Type 2 Diabetes and Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease Older adults (>55 yrs) with Type 2 diabetes have a 65% increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (compared to those without diabetes)

Adults with diabetes have lower scores on cognitive tests 1 out of 2 people over 55 y/o in WA state is pre-diabetic

(insulin resistant) Can we detect this pre-diabetic state? Yes, see next slide!

Detecting “Insulin Resistance” OGTT: O ral G lucose T olerance T est Step 1: Check fasting blood sugar Step 2: Drink a sugar drink Step 3: Check blood sugar several times over the next 90 minutes 210 190

What happens to your blood sugar during an OGTT ?

170 150

Normal Impaired

130 110 90 70 50 Fasting

20 Min

90 Min

Care for your body, care for your brain !: exercise, diet, chronic disease management, medication management, stress reduction, social interaction …

For More Information Julie Moorer R.N. Director of Recruitment

253-583-2008

www.uwadrc.org