Minor memory lapses are normal at
ANY age, yet older adults are terrified when normal brain changes result in
cognitive slowing. People age sixty and over often mistake not remembering a
movie title or losing keys as dementia. As we age, the structure of the brain
changes, and with that comes cognitive slowing, which is considered a normal
age-related change. The memories are not “lost,” they are still stored in the
brain but slower to retrieve.
I am alarmed with advertising
claims of products treating “normal age-related memory loss.” Memory loss is
not normal at any age, as I have stated many times in my blog. Examples of
memory loss include putting your wallet in the freezer and picking up the
remote and asking, “What is this?”
One product that has been making deceptive
claims is Prevagin, cited by the FDA with false advertising. Their “studies,”
conducted in-house, were found to be misleading, and therefore their product is
not “clinically proven” as they claim. Prevagin is not the only bogus product
on the market, it is the tip of the iceberg. There are hundreds of products and
supplements using misleading claims and scare tactics to promote improved
memory, sexual function, stamina, and energy.
As a gerontologist and researcher,
I recommend taking proactive steps to improve memory function. It begins with
taking charge of your own health and being informed about normal brain aging. Eat
right, maintain a healthy weight, get enough sleep, exercise, have strong
social connections, take prescribed medicines, and complete your diagnostics on
time.
Do you know that one leading
contributor to cognitive slowing is multi-tasking? Don’t overload your brain. Older
brains cannot perform five tasks at once, but an adolescent is able to
multi-task efficiently.
Advocate for yourself. Don’t allow
people to bully you into thinking you have Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.
In my practice, I have found an alarming number of grown children lay
diagnosing their parents with brain disorders and laughing about memory slip-ups
or pointing out every memory mistake. While it is heartbreaking to witness, it
has occurred so often that I will continue to address it here in my blog. There
is no magic pill or supplement for memory enhancement. You decide how you age
and maintaining a healthy brain is as important as keeping your body healthy.
I will write more later. Thanks for
reading. AgeDoc
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