Globe Syndicate

 

For release Friday April 22, 2005

 

 

The Sandwich Generation . . . Helping Your Aging Parents

 

by Carol Abaya, M.A.

 

 

MEMORY LOSS IS NOT NORMAL

 

Question:   My mother’s memory is terrible.  She (79) remembers very little in relation to her daily activities.  The other day she told me that she hadn’t eaten for days and  was starving.  I know she ate because my son took her out to her favorite restaurant.  Her doctor says, “It’s just old age.”  I’m afraid it may be Alzheimer’s.  Is there anything we can do?

 

Answer:  First, find another doctor; one with geriatric credentials and a better understanding of the aging process.  Old age does not automatically trigger memory loss!

            Second, some memory loss and certain forms of dementia can be prevented and reversed. 

            Third, symptoms of senile dementia and Alzheimer’s are similar.  A person may hallucinate, be confused, have profound memory loss, may withdraw from society and be unable to cope with even simple everyday chores

            But there are many conditions that can cause similar reactions, but are not Alzheimer’s.

            Memory loss and dementia may be the result of:

            •  clinical depression

            •  fluid imbalance

            •  misuse of medications or adverse reactions

            •  malnutrition

            •  low blood sugar

            •  small strokes (TIAs)

            •  poor blood circulation

            •  hypothyroidism

            •  head injuries

            Clinical depression: Can be triggered by losses, including that of a spouse, one’s independence, driving privileges or home.  Depression is the number one cause of reversible memory loss in seniors.  A combination of anti-depressant drugs and counseling help.

            Fluid imbalance:  too much or little water in the body can cause confusion.  Many seniors do not drink enough and become dehydrated

            Misuse of drugs:  Seniors taking too much medication or the wrong drugs may suffer from metabolic dementia.  The drugs most often abused are sedatives such as Valium,  other tranquilizers and sleeping pills.  When misused, the drugs become toxic to the body and cannot be metabolized properly, thus resulting in dementia.

            Malnutrition:  Older people may have stopped cooking, and the lack of B-complex vitamins and well-balanced meals can result in mental fuzziness and memory loss.  The B vitamin closely linked to memory loss is B-12, found in meat, shell fish, eggs and dairy foods.  Seniors may avoid these due to their cost or the difficulty of chewing meat.  Others become malnourished because medication has lowered their appetite level.

            Low blood sugar can cause memory problems in almost anyone, regardless of age.  If a senior is diabetic and taking insulin, malnourishment can cause a hypo-insulin state.

            Small strokes (TIAs):  With physical therapy, memory loss and/or confusion can often be successfully treated.

            Poor blood circulation:  anemia and lung and heart diseases, anything that interferes with the amount of oxygen going to the brain, can result in memory impairment.

            Hypothyroidism:  Lowered metabolic function as a result of thyroid problems can result in memory loss.

            Head injury:  Head trauma, a blood clot on the brain, can cause memory loss and confusion.

Depending on the cause, such loss may be reversible.

            Consult a geriatric physician and have him test for the conditions noted above.

 

 

Are you juggling doing errands for your aging parents, your children, yourself and working at the same time?  Are you tired, stressed out and upset that your once vibrant parent is now frail and needy?

 

Do you feel alone?  Rest assured you are not alone!  The Sandwich Generation is dedicated to the 50 million Americans who may have elder/parent care concerns and/or responsibilities.

 

 

 

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Do you have a question? Send it in. Although letters cannot be answered individually, appropriate letters will be answered in this column whenever possible. Letters may be edited. Send letters to Ms. Carol Abaya, mail direct to her at PO Box 132, Wickatunk, NJ 07765-0132 or contact her through her web site: thesandwichgeneration.com.

 

Carol Abaya is an international-award-winning journalist and creator of the unique magazine The Sandwich Generation: You & Your Aging Parents.

 

NOTES TO EDITORS: text = 558 words; other material = 160 words

 

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