THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022, DEMENTIA

 THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022, DEMENTIA

Okay, I am on several email lists - and this week I’ve received four emails connected with dementia (was that a hint that I needed to write on dementia again?)

From: https://www.sharecare.com/healthy-aging/dementia/surprising-signs-dementia

That article said, “ Memory impairment is probably the best-known symptom of dementia conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, but there are other, surprising warning signs that your brain health is at risk. Be on the lookout for these lesser-known symptoms, and call a healthcare provider if you suspect you or a loved one might be developing the disorder.”

YOU HAVE TROUBLE CHEWING HARD FOOD (like apples)

From the article, “ Researchers examined 577 people over the age of 77 and found those who had trouble chewing hard food were at greater risk of cognitive impairment. Another study, published in 2017, linked tooth loss to dementia.”

Ouch - I had four teeth pulled in December and a partial false teeth plate.  I think I can chew hard food - but maybe I need to read and research more!!!

*****

YOU WALK DIFFERENTLY

“Walking slower can be an early predictor of dementia”

And

“Sometimes a walking test for someone with early Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment will seem normal, until the person is asked to do something else while walking, like counting backward or naming as many animals as they can. If their gait slows drastically, it could be a red flag.”

Okay - I AM walking slower.  I can pick up the pace a little - but I am walking slower.  I haven’t tried naming animals or counting.

*****

YOUR SLEEP IS DIFFERENT

The article says, ““Sleep centers can be affected by brain degeneration.”  Hmm - I do take a nap, but seemingly I’m sleeping well.

*****

YOU CAN’T FIND THE RIGHT WORD

“When dementia begins to affect the areas of the brain that control language, communication can become difficult.”

(I think I can find the right word, I have trouble spelling it!!!)

*****

LEGAL ISSUES!!! (??)

The article has this, “Some forms of dementia affect the parts of the brain that govern judgment, self-control, violence, and sexual behavior. As they become more compromised, you might find yourself in trouble with the law for the first time. Crimes commonly committed by people with dementia include theft, trespassing, and public urination. Aggression and violence are also a common manifestation of dementia, with one long-term study reporting that up to 96 percent of people with dementia become aggressive at some point.”

One of the places I visit in my part-time job is the memory care unit.  One lady wanders around and enters other residents’ rooms. There is a lady who can be aggressive and negative frequently (ouch!!!).

*****

INAPPROPRIATE SEXUAL BEHAVIOR!!! (??)

From the article, “About 3 percent of people with dementia display inappropriate sexual behavior, according to Gliebus, because the areas of the brain influencing self-control start to degenerate. “There are no standard behavioral changes,” says Gliebus. “It depends on the disease and the parts of the brain that are affected.”

Inappropriate sexual behavior can include harassing language, public masturbation, stripping, groping, and other forms of sexual assault.

Well - that is only about 3 percent - but that is interesting.  

*****

YOUR SMELL IS OFF

“Can you no longer tell the difference between two very different odors, like gasoline and lemons? That could be an early sign of Alzheimer’s, according to a June 2017 study in Neurology.

Using scratch-and-sniff tests, researchers measured the sense of smell of 300 healthy people, average age of 63, at risk for Alzheimer’s due to their family history. They found that participants who had the most trouble distinguishing scents had both lower cognitive test scores and more chemicals associated with Alzheimer’s in their spinal fluid.’

Hmmm - some smells are not as powerful as in the past - but gas and lemons are still very different to me.

*****

Next Monday we are going to continue looking at dementia - and some of the suggestions for keeping sharp.

LOVE WINS

Love your seniors, love your parents, love your elderly neighbors, love does WIN - even if the person is falling into dementia!!

Karen

June 16, 2022