With Senior Moments, Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease.

By Jonathan L. Liss, M.D., D.ABPN, D.ABSM
Copywrite 2015-2021, All rights reserved

Specific Advice for Maintaining Vibrant Health

Introduction:

Being diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment or Alzheimer’s disease is not the first day of the end of your life, but rather a new beginning. It is
immensely important to realize that you remain an essential part of your family unit and surrounding community. Your insight, intelligence, humor,
and charm are wanted and needed by your family and friends. Indeed, there is no need to lie in bed with feelings of gloom and doom.
These diseases, which were once a complete mystery, are now being solved piece-by-piece. What was once considered untreatable can now be
modified with a host of proven interventions. Through research, we are indeed on the road to a cure. Only a short time ago there were a limited
number of research trials that barely nibbled at the edges of intervention and were only available to those who lived near a select number of major
universities. Now, there are important clinical research trials available for people at every stage of illness. Moreover, the same trials being conducted
at the world’s leading universities are now being offered in private offices throughout the country. To find a research trial in your community, ask your
doctor or visit www.TrialMatch.org.

Prevention and Treatment Options

Protecting Brain Cells

Mind Exercises

It is also clear that people who challenge their minds through formal or
informal educational tools are less likely to have their Alzheimer’s disease noticed in its early stages. Opportunities to increase cognitive reserve are available in your home, local library, and community college.

• If you have an interest in history, start reading more history.
• If you have a hobby, take it to the next level of difficulty or become an expert in it by studying its origin and variations.
• If you are mechanical, take apart and reassemble a bicycle, watch,computer, etc.
• If you enjoy cooking, find a new recipe with unfamiliar challenges.
• If you enjoy language, now is the time to buy a computer-based
• language program or enroll at your local college.
• Work on a jigsaw puzzle, Sudoku, or crossword puzzle daily.

Prescription Medications

There are a number of FDA approved prescription medications. A current list can be found at www.Alz.org. Discuss these with your doctor.

Supplements and Over-the-Counter Medicines

There are a large number of minerals, vitamins, and over-the-counter medications that have gained a reputation for helping memory. In truth, most lack scientific evidence to support this claim. The list of these substances is nearly endless. The most commonly mentioned include: Vitamin E, Coenzyme Q10, Ginkgo Biloba, Vitamin D, and Ibuprofen.

Should you decide to take medicines/supplements, make certain you discuss your decision with your doctor to make sure they are safe. For instance, Vitamin E, which does have some evidence to support its use, can increase the risk of bleeding in some individuals.

As vitamins, supplements, and other therapies become part of standard quality care in the treatment of DAT or MCI, these substances will be listed on the Alzheimer’s Association website: www.Alz.org. The Alzheimer’s Association also has a downloadable App for smart phones.

Research Opportunities

Participating in a research trial is one more way to take control of your disease and potentially prolong independence. There are five great reasons to participate in clinical research:

1. Gain an immediate sense of hope
2. Obtain access to cutting-edge research therapies
3. Have your memory problem become the focus of an entire healthcare team
4. Help find treatments and cures for yourself and your children
5. Assure that people of your ethnic and racial background are represented in the final research results

It is quite likely that there are numerous FDA approved research trials for the treatment of memory disorders taking place in your own home town. Since research participation is only allowed for people who have access to the best proven medications, it does not replace proven therapies. Rather, clinical research offers the possibility of added treatment. Typically, clinical research trials are offered at no-cost to the patient or family, as the sponsor of the research pays for all related medical visits and study medication.

Daily Memory Planners

The key to remaining independent is to forget as few things as possible. One way to minimize what is forgotten is to maintain a daily planner. A daily planner is a check-list of the day’s activities. The top of your checklist notes the day, month, and year. The remainder of the planner is broken down into Morning, Afternoon, Evening, and Bedtime headings. Under these headings are listed the name of each medication, based upon when it is to be taken. The planner should also include check boxes for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, along with the day’s expected activities.

For instance, after you take your morning medicines, you will make an “X” in the box next to each. After breakfast, an “X” is placed next to breakfast and space is available for you to make a comment such as: “Eggs and toast…toast was burned a little.”

If you always get your hair done on Tuesdays and go to church on Sundays, these activities are pre-populated in the planner, with a box to check, next to each. Extra space is also made available on the page for unscheduled activities and extra notes, such as doctor’s appointments or the preacher’s sermon. By learning to look at this planner numerous times each day, you will stay on task, be constantly reminded of what has occurred during the day, avoid repeating yourself, reduce the risk of inappropriately taking medicines, or missing important activities.

In addition to the daily planner, there are a large number of smartphone
Apps and wearable technologies that can help remind you to take
medications and assist in other aspects of daily planning. Many of these
technologies can be found by searching the internet or checking the
Windows and Apple App stores.

The key to success with a daily planner is to look at it frequently. If family and friends spend a few weeks constantly reminding you to look at the planner, the concept of using the planner will become habit. Then, the habit of using the planner becomes a substitute for having to store and recall all of the individual details that the planner holds.

Click here for a sample sheet you can print and use as a daily planner.

Exercise

People with and without memory illnesses tend to perform a bit better

on cognitive tasks when they are able to exercise regularly. There is some research to support the belief that moderate intensity exercise on a routine basis can actually delay or prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Before beginning any exercise regimen, check with your doctor to make certain it is safe.

Stress Reduction

Taking steps to reduce stress will put you on a pathway to better emotional and cognitive health. Important ways to reduce stress include:

Treating Mood Disorders

It is not possible to be a crisp thinker when suffering from anxiety, depression, or agitation. Be honest with yourself and your healthcare provider when thinking about your mood. There are many medication and non-medication therapies that can improve your mood and therefore, sharpen your thinking.

Simplify Your Life

• De-clutter your home
• Streamline your daily schedule
• Get adequate sleep
• Take a break when tired
• Eat well
• Engage in meaningful activities

Plan for the Future

Uncertainty about where you will live and who will be responsible for helping you with your affairs, should the need arise, is a common source of worry and easily remedied if you plan ahead.

• Decide where you would like to live should you require more assistance.
• Have your driving abilities assessed.
• Create a Living Will/Advanced Directive in case you become suddenly impaired.
• Update your Will.

Financial Planning

Scammers and Con men are frequently targeting the elderly. Because people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease can have impaired judgment regarding finances, they are especially tempting targets. For this reason, it is important to be extra careful with your investments and bank accounts. Helpful tips include:

• Decide who you can trust to help with the execution of routine financial responsibilities.
• Consider hiring a Certified Financial Planner.
• Hire an elder law attorney for guidance completing documents related to legal and financial planning.
• Maintain a separate bank account with a limited amount of funds for everyday use, so that large sums cannot be lost.
• Allow a trusted person, who is financially stable, to monitor finances and arrange with the bank to have on-line access to the accounts for monitoring purposes.
• Complete a legal and financial worksheet so that account numbers, insurance policies, medical directives, etc. are easily accessible – A worksheet is available at www.Alz.org.

Having these kinds of future issues settled, relieves stress, anxiety, and depression now. This kind of planning is also a very loving gift to your family, as it removes anxiety and stress about having this kind of conversation with you and also removes many hurdles set before them, should you need their help.