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Failing memory is a serious concern as we grow older. While medical solutions for memory loss remain elusive, diet, exercise, socialization and lifelong learning can push back cognitive impairment.

What is dementia? It refers to memory loss and other cognitive problems that are severe enough to interrupt a person’s daily life. Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, and dementia with Lewy bodies are all types of dementia.

More than 5 million Americans currently live with Alzheimer’s disease—the most common form of dementia. By 2050, that number is expected to rise to 16 million Americans.

In Alzheimer’s disease, abnormal proteins called tau and beta-amyloid clump together to form deposits in the brain. These deposits gradually damage nerve cells and destroy areas of the brain. Vascular dementia often occurs after a stroke that damages blood vessels in the brain. The damaged vessels prevent enough blood from reaching brain tissues. People who have dementia with Lewy bodies have an abnormal buildup of a protein called alpha-synuclein in the brain. It’s possible to have a combination of these different dementia types, known as “mixed dementia.”

Dementia symptoms vary by type, but can include difficulty remembering names and events, trouble communicating, depression, poor judgment, confusion, behavior changes, and sleep disturbances. People who are suspected of having dementia will undergo a series of dementia tests, or Alzheimer’s tests, to determine whether they have lost memory and cognitive function. Doctors will ask the person and his or her family members about any memory problems and trouble completing daily activities.

Other tests involve evaluating memory, attention, problem-solving, and language skills. During these tests, the health care provider will ask the person a series of questions and assign tasks, such as remembering the names of common objects or drawing a face of a clock. Brain scans such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or positron emission tomography (PET) may also be done to assess brain structure and function.

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Dementia Prevention: Reduce Your Risk with Physical Activity

Mar 19, 2019 · UHN Staff · Memory

Several large, well-designed studies have concluded that exercise is good for the brain. Even moderate exercise, such as walking, when done regularly, has proven benefits for mental function. The evidence is convincing that regular physical activity (walking, bicycling, swimming) improves mental function. A few studies also suggest that it may … Read More

The Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease

Mar 11, 2019 · UHN Staff · Memory

The typical Alzheimer’s case progresses gradually, with steady deterioration over as many as 20 years, although some people have a more rapid course. This progression has been categorized into stages of Alzheimer's for diagnostic purposes, although, in reality, an individual with AD may have some overlap of … Read More

Ketogenic Diet Shows Promising Results for All Dementia Stages

Feb 22, 2019 · UHN Staff · Memory

Studies show a ketogenic diet can slow and even reverse symptoms of memory loss and cognitive impairment throughout all the dementia stages. You might be asking, “What is a ketogenic diet?” A ketogenic diet is a high-fat, adequate-protein, and low-carbohydrate diet that produces ketones—compounds the … Read More

4 Memory Exercises to Keep Your Brain Sharp

Feb 19, 2019 · UHN Staff · Memory

Although research has yet to uncover a means of preventing Alzheimer’s disease, there is evidence that actively engaging your mind to “cement memories” can help preserve them as you age. And the earlier you start working on your memory, the better. Here are some memory exercises that … Read More

Chocolate Benefits for Your Brain: Memory and Mood Improvement

Feb 6, 2019 · UHN Staff · Memory

Eating moderate amounts of dark chocolate benefits health in many ways. In fact, chocolate is now considered an anti-aging, anti-inflammatory “superfood” for the brain and body. Studies examining the health benefits of chocolate continue to reveal new and exciting chocolate benefits, particularly in the … Read More

Does Music Affect Memory? Music Therapy Is One of the Best Activities for Dementia Patients

Jan 18, 2019 · UHN Staff · Memory

Whenever I went to see my grandmother in her nursing home and my visit coincided with a guest musician playing in the activity room, she insisted that we go. She loved these events, and I loved them too. It was cheering to see the room light up as residents came … Read More

A Guide Through Alzheimer’s Stages

Jan 14, 2019 · Susan Jimison Vitek · Memory

People who have Alzheimer’s disease typically go through distinct phases in which symptoms gradually worsen. However, not everyone will go through all of the Alzheimer’s stages, nor progress through them at the same rate. For example, recent research has provided some evidence that in Alzheimer’s disease, the … Read More

Short-Term Memory Loss: Part of Aging?

Jan 9, 2019 · Helen Boehm Johnson, MD · Memory

Do you feel as if you've been experiencing more short-term memory loss lately? Interestingly, what many of us think of as short-term memory—for example, recalling in the afternoon what we had for breakfast that morning—is actually defined by scientists as long-term memory. Short-term memory is technically limited to … Read More

Dementia Care: Don’t Neglect Yourself When Serving as Caretaker for a Loved One

Jan 2, 2019 · Rosanne Leipzig, MD, PhD · Memory

About one-third of adults age 65 and older are family caregivers, many of whom are looking after relatives with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. Unfortunately, dementia care can be a heavy load for caregivers. The stress of looking after someone with dementia can take its … Read More

Alcoholic Dementia: How Heavy Drinking Can Affect Your Memory

Dec 19, 2018 · Susan Jimison Vitek · Memory

Moderate drinking (one or two glasses a day) shouldn’t affect your cognitive function and may even provide some mild benefits. But chronic alcohol abuse can lead to alcohol-induced dementia due to the combined toxic effects of alcohol and the nutritional deficiencies often associated with alcoholism. In fact, heavy drinking … Read More

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