Memory Problems

[MEC]

Does anyone else have them? Is this an old person thing? My memory seems to be getting worse and worse over the past year. I've been attributing it to the vertigo that I have had since December, but I'm wondering if anyone has any tips for re-vamping my ailing brain cells.

I don't watch TV much, (like about 3 hours a week) and if I do, it's educational TV. The only time I sit in front of the computer is at work, where I am forced to do so. I eat a healthy diet - Ihave a nutritionist and everything. I exercise a LOT, and still my memory declines. My 80 year old mom was visiting me for the past week, and I feel like my memory is almost as bad as hers!

Advice for brain exercises anyone?

[boarderboy]

The rascal will have your gray matter working in overdrive at least 18 hours a day. (And you'll probably dream in Technicolor, too...)

Among the herbals, some trust is placed in Ginkgo Biloba and (maybe) the "newer" Resveratrol (?)

If we boomers are gonna live so long, we might as well have fun doing it, and any kind of dementia should be staved off as long as possible!

cheers (and exhaustion)

BB

[MEC]

Eeew! No offense, cause I understand that without kids, the human race would be gone in a short while, but I really don't like kids in my immediate vicinity. :D Unless they are over 16 years old and you can talk to them like an adult and stuff. Then they're ok.

I'm one of those rare-breed hetero ladies who absolutely never wanted them! They smell bad, eat too much, break stuff, leave boogers and articles of clothing everywhere, and are waaaay too loud.

This is my kid, imho, he's way better than the human variety. Unfortunately he passed away a couple of months ago, but there will be a new one in my home soon:

[Steve Prokopiw]

here on bomber should provide a virtual workout for your lobes.On the slightly more serious side my wife is going through menopause earlier than what's considered normal and that has had all kinds of effects including a bit of 'spaciness'.

[MEC]

here on bomber should provide a virtual workout for your lobes.On the slightly more serious side my wife is going through menopause earlier than what's considered normal and that has had all kinds of effects including a bit of 'spaciness'.

I've been reading all of the tech stuff here, I think that's part of why I like this forum, but honestly, I'm not that interested in studying all of the minute details on riding, (e.g. my right knee should probably have been placed 3mm to the right on that last toeside to have made it perfect) - I'm one of those "just go out there and ride" types. My bro is an engineer, he'd probably go crazy reading some of these tech articles - if he knew how to snowboard! :)

Anyway, your serious note above is a good thought and one that I had not considered. Since my original posting, I was sitting here thinking about whether my early, rather uh, "psychodelically influnced" behavior was having some long-range effect on my brain, but it's probably something much more mundane such as your suggestion above.

Re boarderboy's previous post, I think I have read recently that recently the medical community has discounted ginko as a memory enhancing herb, whereas several years ago they were supporting it. I believe they decided that there was no true evidence to support the claims. But I suppose it can't hurt to try it.

[boarderboy]

and one of the four strategies for minimizing premature memory loss, avoiding stress, certainly doesn't jive with the kid suggestion.

Heard this author reviewed on the memory loss topic on NPR some time back. The book sounded great, and I hope to find it in library soon.

http://www.amazon.com/Where-Did-I-Leave-My-Glasses/

(think this link doesn't work for some reason, but title's accurate)

Also, search "age memory loss" in NYT and you'll find a score of articles.

I think I'm correct that some level of "short-term" memory loss is considered quite normal even in latter middle age, and that our ability to multi-task deteriorates, too. (None of these necessarily a harbinger of Alzheimers.) For that reason, I gave up my beloved five-speed manual transmission in favor of a dull but unchallenging 4-sp automatic.

(Can't wait to get one of the funner six-speed auto/trans with paddle shifting, though!)

cheers

BB

[MEC]

OH - I hadn't thought of that either. I've been completely stressed for months, maybe that is contributing to the problem. Actually, I think I did think of it at one point, but since I can't remember anything, I probably forgot! Way to go. These tips and thoughts are useful. Thanks folks! BB, that book looks like just the thing I need. I'll see if our library has it.

[Terryw]

Memory, what a fun topic! I have read several memory books. The first thing to consider is are you talking about long term memory loss (where did I go to High School), versus short term (where did I put those #$%@ keys?!). Long term memory loss is a potentially much more serious condition. But I bet you are talking more about short term. Most of the problems with short term have to do with original recognition. In other words, if you don't pay attention and focus when you set the keys on the dresser in the living room, you won't remember later where they managed to hide themselves. This is why stress and being busy cause you to feel like you can't remember anything, you lose focus worrying about the rest of your life, and are unable to pay attention to what is happening in front of you right now. Hormones being out of wack plays havoc with your head too.

The best thing you can do is develop strategies to help you stay focused in the first place. Live in the moment as it were. If the problem is finding lost keys, designate a home for the keys when they are in the house. If it is remembering lists of items, write them down. These actions force original recognition. If you are really interested in learning real memory strategies, I highly recommend anything written by Harry Lorayne. I think his most recent book is "Page-A-Minute Memory Book". He is amazing and easy to read. You can start using his methods immediately.

[MEC]

Memory, what a fun topic! I have read several memory books. The first thing to consider is are you talking about long term memory loss (where did I go to High School), versus short term (where did I put those #$%@ keys?!). Long term memory loss is a potentially much more serious condition. But I bet you are talking more about short term. Most of the problems with short term have to do with original recognition. In other words, if you don't pay attention and focus when you set the keys on the dresser in the living room, you won't remember later where they managed to hide themselves. This is why stress and being busy cause you to feel like you can't remember anything, you lose focus worrying about the rest of your life, and are unable to pay attention to what is happening in front of you right now. Hormones being out of wack plays havoc with your head too.

The best thing you can do is develop strategies to help you stay focused in the first place. Live in the moment as it were. If the problem is finding lost keys, designate a home for the keys when they are in the house. If it is remembering lists of items, write them down. These actions force original recognition. If you are really interested in learning real memory strategies, I highly recommend anything written by Harry Lorayne. I think his most recent book is "Page-A-Minute Memory Book". He is amazing and easy to read. You can start using his methods immediately.

It is about 90% short term loss and 10% long term. I attribute the long term to being over 40 now, and am not worried about it, but the short term thing is driving me nuts. I literally can't remember why I ended up in the living room or whatever, and I have to walk back to the kitchen to figure out that it was my reading glasses that I needed so that I could read the recipe book.

Anyway, the more I read about this, the more I think it is stress related. I've had severe vertigo for over 6 months, and it's incredibly stressful to try and function when the world is spinning around you. Driving over 45 mph is next to impossible for me, but thankfully I live in a place where 50 is the limit, so it's not a big deal. Interestingly enough, I have already started many of the memory aid methods you mention above. (Making lists, having designated places for keys, ball cap, etc...) It does help, but I'm really hoping that the cause of my vertigo can be figured out and it (and therefore my short term memory problems) will be vanquished. I'll definitely look for the Lorayne book too. The more that I read about this, the better!

Please, more tips are welcome from anyone! I'm finding it really useful just to know that other "not-so-old" people deal with this too.

[bigdyno]

The hypnotist Reveen does (did?) a memory trick at his shows where he has a deck of cards and a space for each on a rack. He would have an audience member help him by shuffling the cards then showing them to him one at a time and then putting them, randomly, in one of the rack spaces face down. After he chatted up the audience while he was "learning" the deck, he would start at the top left space and recite every card just before it was flipped, and he did it almost as fast as the cards could be turned. There were no special tricks, just disciplined memory. The system he uses is to mentally picture a grid of boxes and put a card in each. Start slow, maybe 3x3 grid and move up when you improve.

[Allee]

It might be hormonal too. Short term memory loss is a symptom of perimenopause. I've noticed over the last year, at 42, that my memory is all over the damn place. I have a number of GF's who approaching menopause, thought they were going nuts, because they couldn't remember anything.

Stress would certainly do it long term. Although I've always found that the more I have to remember, the more I do remember, if you know what I mean.

[Dan]

My parents enjoyed Brain Age on the Nintendo DS quite a bit. I guess that for the medical establishment, the jury is out on whether or not these things actually help, but anecdotally, they seem to have some impact.

Here's a roundup of games designed to promote mental acuity:

http://www.everydayhealth.com/longevity/mental-fitness/brain-games.aspx

[MEC]

Wow. Maybe we should now retitle this thread to "FOR WOMEN'S & MD'S EYES ONLY" or something?!?! :)

Anyway, this is all incredible info. I actually have had my thyroid tested (history of thyroid disease in my family) and it's all fine, but I have an appointment scheduled with the Head of the Ear, Nose, Throat dept at Dartmouth for early July. I saw a Neurologist there last month, and he felt that I either had a small stroke (I've been a Type I diabetic for over 30 years) or that I have an inner ear problem. I'm hoping for the inner ear problem, since the stroke thing sounds much more scary and less fixable. (FYI, I have low cholesterol and 110/65 BP.) Anyway, he wants to rule out inner ear issues before scheduling an MRI. It's all a bunch of waiting and worrying, but whatever, I'm dealing with it in the meantime.

The heart palpitations thing really has me thinking now though. I have been having them like once or twice a week for the last couple of months. I assumed they were stress/vertigo related. I mean, why wouldn't my heart flutter around a bit since I'm so stressed over the world spinning pretty much constantly. My BF is giving me the "this is all in your head" crap, and I have politely asked him to shut the f**k up. Anyway, I'm seeing my endocrinologist at Dartmouth tomorrow for a routine checkup, so I'll ask her, (she is Thai and very cool and into alt medicine too) to order some hormone tests. Why not?

[MEC]

My parents enjoyed Brain Age on the Nintendo DS quite a bit. I guess that for the medical establishment, the jury is out on whether or not these things actually help, but anecdotally, they seem to have some impact.

Here's a roundup of games designed to promote mental acuity:

http://www.everydayhealth.com/longevity/mental-fitness/brain-games.aspx

EXCELLENT thank you! Since I have nothing to do at work, I'll be sure to work on my mental tune-ups while getting paid!

P.S. I just email the link to my 80 year old mom too! She's constantly complaining about not remembering short term stuff. I tell her "Mom, you're 80, don't worry about it. It's OK!"

[Scott]

Your dizzyness can have many causes. My wife has gone 5 years and finally got a firm diagnosos. Some days she had to get off the highway until the dizzyness passed. Hers was thinning of the bones in the inner ear. Loud noises slice through her. They say it is rare but, most is undiagnosed.

FWIW. Good luck

[BobD]

I also find that stress causes short term memory loss. Not the stress of a big project at work, but that insidious stress that can build up over time as things go wrong in our lives. Relaxation response and meditation help me, but require a positive effort keep up.

BobD

[two_ravens]

I read the title of this thread and thought 'I'll post some quip about "Maybe it's menopause" and get a few snickers from some carving dude' - but reading the thread... maybe it is menopause!

Looks like you've gotten lots of great advice, and very wise to have the vertigo checked out for more immediately serious medical problems. Hopefully you can rule out strokes, tumors and the like. Then if it does seem to be hormonal....

I'm 45 and well into very early menopause - and my life has become a series of sticky notes so I can remember who I am and what I'm doing! Things are getting better though. I have done a fair bit of acupuncture and Chinese herbs (custom formulas done up for me by a doctor of Chinese medicine) plus good nutrition, and now some bio-identical estrogen & progesterone creams and some estrogen in vaginal suppositories (sorry guys - that may be TMI, but believe me - they're a really good thing!) from a Compounding Pharmacist who specializes in women's health. I'm also liking the resveratrol I'm taking, though no stunning improvement in memory. If you do the oriental herbs, go to a well trained herbalist who can do the appropriate diagnosis and make a custom formula. Chinese medicine might be able to address the vertigo too.

Stress is also a huge factor. My understanding is that the adrenals are supposed to take over and provide the post-menopausal hormones that keep us going, but when we are stressed out the adrenals are so busy making 'fight or flight' adrenaline and cortisol that there isn't much left over for anything else - which can make any and all pre/peri/post-menopausal symptoms worse. (So I'm in the process of extricating myself from my life threatening job... :D )

I have also gotten some benefit from a kind of bodywork called Bowen Therapy. Another version of it in the US is called Neurostructural Integration Technique. Find a therapist at www.bowendirectory.com

Another thought - with the Type I diabetes - it might be worth getting checked for celiac disease. Those two have a strong link, and celiacs seem a little more prone to early menopause. I am throwing that out there for you because I am a celiac, and it's just a crazy hidden condition that can underlie all kinds of medical problems, and typically goes undiagnosed for years (or forever.) There is a blood test that is fairly accurate, and a genetic test (it's a genetic autoimmune disease that may or may not manifest, depending on individual circumstances) that will tell you if you have the genes for it.

Guess that's more than the memory exercises that you were asking for - but hope you find something that helps! Good luck!

p.s. I agree! Dogs - Good! Kids - good for other people!

[Jack M]

Anyone know anyone about this? It's not specifically for memory, but it's allegedly one of these fountain-of-youth superfruits. You drink 2 to 3 ounces per day as a supplement. We tried it, but I didn't feel anything worth the $40/750ml price tag.

[boarderboy]

p.s. I agree! Dogs - Good! Kids - good for other people!

Kids aren't for everyone!

Since I originally injected the kid concept in this thread (in light-hearted jest) please allow me to elaborate just a bit -

As one who may have given too, too much TMI on BOL about the kid thing, I'll confess I can't imagine a person less "naturally" suited to kid-raising than I. But by a (to me) inconceivable star alignment of the cosmos, late-in-life dadhood did come to me.

It's taken 12 years (and lots of stress that did, in fact, impact my memory at times), but I think I'm finally to the point of not just acceptance, but thankfulness, that what happened, did happen. There are still times when I think I'd rather be back in 'Nam than dealing with our hellion. But mostly, I couldn't be prouder of, or more amazed by, our young man.

And at a "ripe" old 61, on balance, I think I'm more physically active, more alert, and certainly more "alive", with the guy, than I would have been without him.

With all our son's issues and, often, self-imposed challenges, there is certainly no guarantee how he'll "turn out." (Is there ever!!??) But I do know that his incredible Mom and I will give our best, for as long as we can, to try to ensure a happy ending. (And yes, I think/hope "riding", especially snowboarding, will play an increasingly important role in helping David find his way.)

That said, I fully acknowledge that lots of people make a completely "right" decision in not raising kids, and that too many people probably make the "wrong" decision in taking on that particular challenge. It is a quite personal choice, and one not to be judged by others!

My final thought on the memory issue - as a late-diagnosed depressive (with a family history of same), I don't think body chemistry, including, of course, hormonal imbalance, can be exaggerated as a contributor to memory issues. With greater exercise, and a bit of "chemical help", I think my short-term memory is probably better now than it was five years ago.

So, MEC, here's hoping you don't "despair", that you get everything checked out that you can get checked out, and that you work through what must be a very scary, and trying, time.

And may your next winter be so powder-laden that you forget about everything else!!

Best

BB

[bobdea]

allegedly getting some ass is good for the brain in both men and women

http://lifetwo.com/production/node/20070130-is-regular-sex-good-for-a-womans-brain

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0675/is_n3_v12/ai_15295073/

[boarderboy]

"allegedly getting some ass is good for the brain in both men and women"

(now where did I put that whipped cream .... ??)

BB

[carvedog]

some days I look at my computer and just have to laugh at the scene before me.... :o

Holy Post-It storm Batman! Mine looks like that a lot, until I run out of stickies.

Then I start sending myself email alarms so I can remember what the heck I am supposed to be doing.

Kids = not for everyone. And they may be making me old(er) than I already feel. But sometimes they do make you young too. Would not trade for anything. Good thing they love winter and snowsports. A lot.

My two daughters in the first one. My wife and youngest ( in the middle ) sledding on her birthday. [/threadjack]

[MEC]

Thanks Two Ravens for the additional info. I had not heard of Celiac Disease, but after reading Web MD for the last 10 minutes, I don't think it's something that I have, but I'll ask the various members of my ever expanding medical team what they think. I'm all for finding a Chinese Medicine Specialist for myself soon. Ed and I used a veterinary one for our dog after he was diagnosed with incurable blood cancer. (It's common in Shepherds.) Anyway, after a near death experience and subsequent diagnoses, we were told that at best he had a couple weeks or a month to live. (We just wanted him to make it to spring, so we could bury him where we wanted to.) Long story short, I found the Chinese medicine vet and with his help, herbs, Chinese cancer diet and vitamin supplements Hermann made it for another 3 months and died peacefully at home - after the ground had thawed. Our traditional vet was amazed and happily worked in conjunction with the Chinese Med vet, and all of us were happy with the results of his treatment.

Now I'm opening another can of worms and possible topic for thread-jacking, but if my Blue Cross/Blue Shield would pay for a Chinese Medicine Specialist, I'd be there tomorrow! I'm a ski bum, (read: "I literally have no money.") so I can't pay out of pocket for medical expenses. I just can't. I quit my high flautin NYC career a while back and left that stress wrapped environment to live in the peace of the Green Mountain State. My overall physical & mental health (and blood sugar levels!) have improved by leaps and bounds since getting out of the city, I meditate from 5:15-6:00am every morning before Ed gets up, I've been a vegetarian for 22 years, and I now bake my own bread and grow a lot of my own vegetables, so it frustrates me to no end that I'm having a new medical issue. I guess that's why I started this whole thread to begin with - I was just wondering if it's an aging thing, or if there might be some physical cause for my memory loss.

Now that I've collected all of this good advice and possible physical sources for my troubles from all of you kind souls, I have some more meat to bring to the doctors. I appreciate it trememdously!

OK, now to the kid side topic. I hope nobody took my initial response to Boarderboy's suggesting as offensive. I agree, kids are way cool, just for other people. Another side of my personal take on it is that I am not a responsible enough type of person to make it fair to any child to bring him or her into my home. I can barely remember to water my plants, let alone feed and clothe a kid and get him to school. They key here is that I don't want to become that responsible of a person. I know that if I had raised a family, that parental responsibility would have fallen into place and I would have done a fine job of it - but I'm just not interested. I'd rather be snowboarding, scuba diving, surfing, hiking, flying to the alps on a moment's notice, etc. And I'm not patient enough to wait until the kid(s) are out of the house to get back to my former lifestyle. I just made the personal choice to skip that traditional part of adulthood.

P.S. BobDea, I'm not lacking in that dept. I live w/my boyfriend. We're happy and healthy in that respect!

[MEC]

Anyone know anyone about this? It's not specifically for memory, but it's allegedly one of these fountain-of-youth superfruits. You drink 2 to 3 ounces per day as a supplement. We tried it, but I didn't feel anything worth the $40/750ml price tag.

I've found that most natural supplements have to be taken for a long (e.g. like at least 3 month) period of time before the benefit starts to kick in. I haven't tried Mangosteen, but I did use Yucca for my knees a few years back after an ortho told me that my knee pain was unavoidable since I had been physically abusing them since I was 6 and started gymnastics. Yucca was a cheap supplement, so I gave it a shot and it worked completely. Now I can hike down mountains without saying "ow, ow, ow" on every downhill step. After one month of taking the capsules, I was pain free.

[bigdyno]

Kids?.....EW.......