memory concerns age 81+

Use Less · #1 12/30/07, 09:32 AM

My Dad expresses concern over not being able to retrieve words at times in conversation, forgetting how some words are spelled, and having trouble remembering names w/o thinking through or describing the context in which he knew tea person. I don't want to push his concerns aside with, "It's not that bad", sorts of reassurances, because he's not convinced, because he does notice it, because it worries him. The more he worries, I suspect, the worse it gets. He does not at all act or speak like someone who is losing his mental competence. He is busy, pretty much a homebody, but for his working life he went to work and then worked at home. He fishes, hunts, boats, builds furniture and models. He has some heart problems, under control with meds, low red cell count. Can you suggest vitamins, minerals or supplements that we might look into that support memory & brain function? Thanks, Sue

Pink_Carnation · #2 12/30/07, 05:13 PM

B vitamins, and learning new things are probably the best thing to help.

Tricky Grama · #3 12/31/07, 10:18 AM

You can reassure him by letting him know that alzheimer's or dementia usually is characterized by forgetting things like how to tie your shoes. Or how to tell time. How to draw a circle or how to identify shapes, etc. He is forgetting things that we all forget from time to time, it's just that when we are older, the 'time to time' comes more often.

Patty

Katrina26 · #4 01/02/08, 11:27 PM

Here is a good article from alz dot org.

http://www.alz.org/we_can_help_adopt...althy_diet.asp

"Vitamins may be helpful. There is some indication that vitamins, such as vitamin E, or vitamins E and C together, vitamin B12 and folate may be important in lowering your risk of developing Alzheimer’s."

"Cold water fish contain beneficial omega-3 fatty acids: halibut, mackerel, salmon, trout and tuna."

donsgal · #5 01/02/08, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Use Less

My Dad expresses concern over not being able to retrieve words at times in conversation, forgetting how some words are spelled, and having trouble remembering names w/o thinking through or describing the context in which he knew tea person. I don't want to push his concerns aside with, "It's not that bad", sorts of reassurances, because he's not convinced, because he does notice it, because it worries him. The more he worries, I suspect, the worse it gets. He does not at all act or speak like someone who is losing his mental competence. He is busy, pretty much a homebody, but for his working life he went to work and then worked at home. He fishes, hunts, boats, builds furniture and models. He has some heart problems, under control with meds, low red cell count. Can you suggest vitamins, minerals or supplements that we might look into that support memory & brain function? Thanks, Sue

There are many excellent supplements that are available in Europe for cognitive and memory disorders as well as treatment for the improvement of mental functioning and clarity. Unfortunately, many of them are not available in the US - for whatever reason.

I shop regularly at a website called antiaging-systems.com for products similar to this. When I was going through real estate school, which is A LOT OF INFORMATION in a very short time, I bought some NOOTROPIL to help me understand and remember the information. I often buy Adrafranil which helps me concentrate.

If you look on their website here http://www.antiaging-systems.com/a2z/home2.htm under "conditions" and check out "cognitive" or "memory" you will see many items that will help. Some of them are all natural supplements, others are not. But very, very few of them have side effects. I can absolutely, positively recommend this company as being honest and reputable and worthy of your full confidence. Why not give them a try and see if it helps.

Check out Centrophenoxine for instance which states...

Through a variety of animal experiments measuring learning abilities and memory, aged animals whose high lipofuscin levels were reduced by Centrophenoxine, also had their memory and learning abilities restored to a level similar to healthy young animals, while untreated high lipofuscin control animals did not.

sounds pretty good to me!

donsgal

cozyhollow-gal · #6 01/03/08, 04:54 AM

Hi Use less,
Sounds like your dad is just going thru what a lot of us experience. I myself have noticed the same things your dad is concerned about.although I am not as old as he is. But it doesn't sound serious with your dad. He is busy with life and enjoying things he has done most of his life. He knows what he is doing.

But I do believe he needs to try some New learning experiences to stimulate his memory cells.
I was myself concerned for awhile.when I noticed these differences in me. I decided to do easy crossword puzzles for brain cell exercise. I want to get a computer game called a Brain Teaser, but haven't yet. I Also tackle learning new things. Like I am seriously studying the Art of Painting. I do it every winter. Also I read that Mega-3 fish oils improves memory. (not mega-3 veggie oil) So I am taking that almost daily. Does our body good to keep some healthy oil in it anyway. Just 1 teaspoon daily is recommended. ***I keep busy doing the things I love. Do a lot of reading and studying. I look up any new words in the Dictionary I come across to find actual meaning.I want to take time to learn a musical instrument, but deed! Just not enough hours in the week it seems. So those are some other learning processes and really help stimulate our memory banks.

I am not a great believer in conventional medicines and fancy herbal remedies. ( But they may work for some folks

) I prefer to keep things as easy and simple and natural as possible. Maybe knowing my experience will ease your dad from worrying so much. Hope so..

Patsy

Tricky Grama · #7 01/03/08, 09:01 AM

Just read that curry is supposed to help-it's the turmeric in it.

Patty

culpeper · #8 01/03/08, 02:55 PM

Hmm. I'm a bit younger than 81, and I have the same problems as your father! It's called Old Timer's Disease, and it can be caused by getting older, but also by certain medications. I agree that 'brain exercise' is very effective. Certainly physical exercise helps keep the blood flowing to and feeding the brain, too. It can be a case of 'use it, or lose it'.

He could try certain herbs which are claimed to help with memory loss. These should not be taken for the purpose by people under 50. The best-known is Brahmi (Bacopa monniera), but another good one is Pennywort, also called Brahmi or Kotu Kola (Centella asiatica). Also good is Ginkgo biloba, which is especially effective if taken with Hawthorn berries ((Crataegus oxyacantha, C monogyna). All these are readily available as supplements.

Warning about Hawthorn: Though non-toxic, hawthorn can produce dizziness if taken in large doses. Avoid if suffering from colitis or ulcers. Because it contains compounds which affect blood pressure and heart rate, it is best used under medical supervision. (ie especially if meds for these conditions are being taken)

Drink a cup of Rosemary leaf tea once or twice a day to enhance mental agility.

Eating an Apple a day with one teaspoon of honey and one cup of milk is beneficial in the treatment of loss of memory and mental irritability.

Take 5 crushed Peppercorns with 1 teaspoon honey morning and evening. This is a good treatment for amnesia.

Eat about 20g Walnuts every day. The effect is enhanced if they are taken with about 10g Figs or Raisins.

A cup of Sage leaf tea once or twice a day aids the memory and improves concentration. (Salvia officinalis)

culpeper · #9 01/03/08, 04:50 PM

Show your father this video to prove he isn't alone!!

http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/a...t=Remember.flv

naturelover · #10 01/04/08, 01:59 AM

I'd recommend the gingko biloba all by itself as a tea. It won't interfere with any other meds he might be on. I work as a life skills instructor and home health aide with seniors and have seen how helpful this herb can be with memory loss or absent mindedness in seniors, plus it is helpful with other health issues that are common in seniors. You can get gingko biloba at any health food store to make a steeped tea or infusions from it. Or consider the possibility of growing a gingko tree in the yard, gingko will grow well in most climates. The fresh leaves collected straight from the tree are even more effective than dried leaves.

Here is a very good link that you can read to do some further research about it. http://fennerschool-associated.anu.e...ko/gingko.html

Steeping dried leaves in a tea, or used as an extract distilled from the leaves, ginkgo was very important in Chinese and Japanese traditional medicine, and was used in the treatment of many illnesses including:

- Poor circulation and associated illnesses
- Deafness, tinnitus and vertigo - illnesses all associated with an inner ear imbalance
- Absent-mindedness, and dementia in older members of the community
- Hypertension and depression in the aged
- Impotence in men.

.

Tricky Grama · #11 01/04/08, 09:32 AM

I'm from MO & you have to "show me" I guess. We have a huge gingko tree in our yard. I have NO idea how to make tea from the leaves. Chop them up & pour boiling water over?? Steep that for 10 min? How many leaves? Un chopped? Dry them & then use?

I picked about 8-10 leaves last summer & steeped them in a tea pot & tea was as clear as fresh water...drank it anyway. Don't remember if it helped.

Patty

naturelover · #12 01/04/08, 02:13 PM

Patty - basically you've already got the method down. With my gingko leaves I use a loose handfull of fresh leaves, bruise them slightly by crumpling them in my hand, then pour boiling water over them in a teapot, allow to steep for 5 minutes. With dried leaves I still crumple them, and allow them to steep for up to 10 minutes. It is normal for the color of the gingko tea to be very clear and light.

An infusion is different from a tea and will more fully extract all of the properties out of the leaves. To make an infusion - pack a large jar full of fresh or dried crumpled leaves, pour on boiling water, cap loosely enough to allow for contraction as the liquid cools and set aside at room temperature for 24 hours. Then strain the liquid off, and squeeze any remaining liquid out of the leaves, discard the left-over leaves, refrigerate the infusion. The infusion is good in the fridge for up to 6 days. Drink half a cup of infusion 2 or 3 times daily.