The Aging Brain

June is National Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, over 50 million people worldwide are living with a diagnosis of dementia. Dementia is an umbrella term that describes a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with everyday life. Sometimes, this interference is reversible, meaning that the dementia experienced by an older adult is only temporary. Such instances might include temporary memory loss due to the after effects of anesthesia or an infection, such as a urinary tract infection. Unfortunately, most dementia is irreversible, meaning that once the damage has been done to the brain, the brain cannot fully recover.

Dementia develops when the core functions of the brain responsible for learning, memory, decision-making, and language are affected by any of various infections or diseases. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, but there are numerous other known causes. Alzheimer’s disease, although very common, is not a normal part of aging. On the other hand, having memory loss issues does not mean one has Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia.

Many older adults often wonder whether what they are experiencing is normal or dementia. There are certain memory changes that are expected with age. The brain takes longer to process, store, and retrieve information as it ages. It’s when daily life is interrupted by changes in the brain that it might be dementia. The following are examples of what is normal in regard to the aging brain, and what might be dementia.

Recent Memory
Recent memory is defined as the ability to learn and recall information. What is normal forgetfulness is walking into a room and forgetting why you came into the room in the first place. What isn’t normal is forgetting that you wear glasses, even though you’ve worn glasses most of your life.

Language
Language is defined as the ability to write or speak and to understand words, written or spoken. What is normal aging is having difficulty retrieving a specific word while speaking or writing. What isn’t normal is losing multiple words in a sentence, not being able to follow the storyline of a book, or not being able to write a letter to a friend.

Visuospatial Function
Visuospatial function is defined as the ability to use symbols, navigate, and understand maps. It’s typical for an older adult to get turned around while out driving or on a walk, especially in new locations. What isn’t normal is getting lost in familiar locations, such as your neighborhood or while out running errands.

Executive Function
Executive function is defined as the ability to plan, reason, or problem solve. Older adults tend to have more difficulty multitasking, and that is completely normal. What isn’t normal is not being able to follow directions in a recipe, putting undergarments on over clothes, or being unable to make a doctor appointment.

The following statistics provided by the Alzheimer’s Association are alarming. One in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Every 65 seconds, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s disease. 16.1 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. In 2018, Alzheimer’s and other dementias will cost the nation $277 billion. Early and accurate diagnosis could save up to $7.9 trillion in medical and care costs. The Alzheimer’s Association is leading the fight to end Alzheimer’s and needs our help. Visiting Angels Wayzata is joining the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Twin Cities and we want you to walk with us. Mark your calendar for September 15, then visit our Visiting Angels team page to register. Join our team, please donate, and we’ll see you at the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Twin Cities!