Spire, September 18, 2008
By Susan Cafferty
Parish Care Coordinator
UNDERSTANDING MEMORY LOSS-PART II
We hear about memory loss on TV and on the radio, we read about it in the newspaper and on the internet. We hear about new medicines for Alzheimer’s disease, and we see ads for the miracle herb that can restore your memory. Lots of information and misinformation is out there. This is the second of three Spire pages about memory loss. In our last issue, we discussed how to recognize significant memory problems. This time, we’ll cover the causes of memory loss, and some of the treatments.
I was asked the other day “What’s the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease?” That’s a good question - these terms are often used as if they are the same, which they are not. Dementia is a chronic illness with loss of memory that tends to worsen over time. Those who have the symptoms of serious memory loss that were discussed in the last article are often diagnosed as having dementia. Dementia can affect people of any age, but it is most common in those over 65years old. About 4-5 million people in the US live with dementia.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, but it is not the only one.
Causes and Treatments for memory loss/dementia:
1. Stroke (often called multi-infarct dementia): Mr. Johnson started having problems remembering. He couldn’t figure it out - he was an active person, he walked every day (even in the winter). He went to the doctor. His blood pressure was 154/90. He was having little strokes, small enough that he didn’t even notice them. The doctor couldn’t reverse his memory loss, but he helped Mr. Johnson lower his blood pressure and avoid having more strokes.
2. Depression: Mrs. Smith felt terrible. She had no appetite, couldn’t sleep, she was tired all the time. She just couldn’t concentrate enough to finish the quilt she was making. She began to forget things. Severe depression can cause memory loss that looks like dementia. Mrs. Smith was depressed. Her doctor gave her antidepressant medicine and had her talk with a counselor. After a few weeks, Mrs. Smith began to feel better, her memory and concentration gradually returned.
3. Drugs, toxins and Medicines: Medicines like valium, antihistamines, some pain killers, and others can worsen memory loss. Memory loss can also be worsened by alcohol, illegal drugs, or poisoning by heavy metals like lead or mercury.
4. Problems with nutrition and fluid balance: dehydration, vitamin deficiency, and poor nutrition may all cause memory loss or make it more severe.
5. Alzheimer’s disease: I purposefully left this one for last, because it’s the one we tend to think of first. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, accounting for about two thirds of dementia in those over age 60. The cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not known, but at least some of it tends to run in families. It usually starts after age 60, and it most often causes a gradual worsening of memory loss over months or years.
Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed by first making sure that other types of memory loss are not present. Some measures your health care provider may take to evaluate memory loss include review of your medicines and nutrition, blood tests of liver, and thyroid function, blood pressure, CT or MRI of the brain (to look for small strokes or other problems).
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. There are, however, some medicines that slow down the progression of memory loss due to Alzheimer’s disease. These include Aricept, and Razadyne (also known as Reminyl). Exelon is a new patch that works well and has fewer problems with side effects. They work best if they are started earlier rather than later.
Next time, we’ll discuss some tips for living with memory loss.
Spire, September 3, 2008
By Susan Cafferty
Parish Care Coordinator
UNDERSTANDING MEMORY LOSS-PART I
There is so much being written and said about memory loss these days. People are talking about questions such as "what is real memory loss vs. the normal changes of aging, what is Alzheimer's disease, how can memory loss be treated, what causes severe memory loss, should I have genetic tests for Alzheimer's disease?" There is a huge amount of information available, but sometimes that information can be less than helpful. New developments may be real breakthroughs, or they may not.
With all of this in mind, I want to share 3 columns on memory loss. This time, we will discuss the issues of what is memory loss? In mid-September Spire, the topic will be causes and treatment of memory loss. In early October, we'll cover issues of caring for a person with memory loss.
Grandpa Wilson was going out to run errands, but he couldn't find his keys. He looked in the kitchen, in his coat pocket, on his desk, and in the bathroom, but they weren't there. Finally, after an hour of looking, he found them on the car seat. He worried "Is my memory going bad?" We all forget some things, and many of us notice that we forget more often as we get older. Occasionally losing your keys, forgetting a friend's name, and missing an appointment are all normal parts of life. We shouldn't be too worried about Grandpa Wilson. Forgetfulness doesn't mean "serious problem." Although there isn't any clear cut line between normal changes and more serious problems, there are some warning signs that could indicate more serious memory loss:
1.Short term memory loss: One of the earliest signs of serious memory loss is forgetting recently learned information. If we sometimes meet someone and can't remember their name, that's normal. If we ask their name 5-6 times, and still can't remember, it may be a sign of serious memory loss. Many of us may forget part of an experience (we had a reunion at the lake this summer, but we can't name everyone who was there). A person with serious memory loss often forgets even that the reunion party occurred. A common problem in serious memory loss is the inability to remember recent events, while retaining the ability to recall events from long ago.
Short term memory loss: One of the earliest signs of serious memory loss is forgetting recently learned information. If we sometimes meet someone and can't remember their name, that's normal. If we ask their name 5-6 times, and still can't remember, it may be a sign of serious memory loss. Many of us may forget part of an experience (we had a reunion at the lake this summer, but we can't name everyone who was there). A person with serious memory loss often forgets even that the reunion party occurred. A common problem in serious memory loss is the inability to remember recent events, while retaining the ability to recall events from long ago.2.Problems doing everyday tasks: People with serious memory loss often forget how to make a meal, how to make change from a dollar, or how to place a phone call. For example, Grandma Wilson always made great pies. She would fix pies for every church supper, and every family gathering. She made strawberry pie in the spring, cherry pie in the summer, and apple in the fall. But all of a sudden, Grandma Wilson stopped making pies. When she saw the rolling pin, she didn't seem to know what it was for.
Problems doing everyday tasks: People with serious memory loss often forget how to make a meal, how to make change from a dollar, or how to place a phone call. For example, Grandma Wilson always made great pies. She would fix pies for every church supper, and every family gathering. She made strawberry pie in the spring, cherry pie in the summer, and apple in the fall. But all of a sudden, Grandma Wilson stopped making pies. When she saw the rolling pin, she didn't seem to know what it was for.3.Problems with language: Most of us have occasional trouble finding the right word. Those with serious memory loss often forget simple, everyday words. Instead of saying "I lost my toothbrush," they might say "I can't find that thing for my mouth."
Problems with language: Most of us have occasional trouble finding the right word. Those with serious memory loss often forget simple, everyday words. Instead of saying "I lost my toothbrush," they might say "I can't find that thing for my mouth."4.Problems with date/place: Occasionally forgetting the day or the date is a normal event. Many of us get confused when driving with a map. Persons with serious memory loss may get lost in their own neighborhood. They may not know how they got to a place, or how to get home.
Problems with date/place: Occasionally forgetting the day or the date is a normal event. Many of us get confused when driving with a map. Persons with serious memory loss may get lost in their own neighborhood. They may not know how they got to a place, or how to get home.5.Misplacing things: It's a common thing to have to spend time looking for your keys. In serious memory loss, we may permanently lose things, or put things in unusual places (a container of ice cream in the closet, a wristwatch in the freezer).
Misplacing things: It's a common thing to have to spend time looking for your keys. In serious memory loss, we may permanently lose things, or put things in unusual places (a container of ice cream in the closet, a wristwatch in the freezer).6.Changes in mood or personality: Serious memory loss often brings rapid, unpredictable changes in mood (for example from tearful to angry to calm in a few minutes, for no apparent reason). Sudden episodes of confusion, anger, or suspiciousness are also warning signs of memory problems.
Changes in mood or personality: Serious memory loss often brings rapid, unpredictable changes in mood (for example from tearful to angry to calm in a few minutes, for no apparent reason). Sudden episodes of confusion, anger, or suspiciousness are also warning signs of memory problems.If you notice some of these warning signs in yourself, it is important to see a doctor. Your doctor can help determine if you have that occasional forgetfulness we all experience, or if the problem might be more serious. Many times, persons with serious memory loss don't recognize that they have the warning signs, so family and friends may have to convince a loved one that a problem exists.
More information on symptoms of serious memory loss can be found at the websites for the Alzheimer's Association and the Mayo Clinic, http://www.alz.org or http://www.mayoclinic.org/alzheimersdisease .
We'll continue in the next Spire.
Spire, August 18, 2008
By Susan Cafferty
Parish Care Coordinator
LET’S TALK ABOUT AIDS
The 8th international AIDS conference took place in early August in Mexico City. Thousands of people were in attendance, including experts in AIDS research, treatment, national leaders, AIDS advocates, and journalists. The goals of the conference were many, but most important, it sought to increase our knowledge of what AIDS/HIV is, how it is spread, what are the worldwide consequences of the illness, and what we can do to stop it.What is HIV/AIDS? AIDS is caused by a virus, known as HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). HIV is a special type of virus, called a retrovirus. It appears to have developed in chimpanzees in Africa, and then it changed a bit, and started infecting humans. AIDS first became a major illness in the early 1980s, but there were probably people with the illness as early as the 1950s. The HIV virus is transmitted by exposure to blood and body fluids. The virus infects and destroys a group of blood cells called CD4 cells. CD4 cells are very important cells that help fight infections. They also seem to keep certain types of cancers from developing and spreading. A person with HIV infection becomes less able to fight off any type of infection. At that point, we call the illness AIDS. Common illnesses that occur in AIDS are thrush (a fungal infection of the mouth), shingles, pneumonia, tuberculosis, intestinal parasites, and others.What is the worldwide impact of HIV/AIDS? Since the 1980s, AIDS has killed approximately 22 million people. Most of the deaths have been in young people, the majority under the age of 40. The largest number of AIDS deaths has occurred in developing countries, particularly in Africa. Currently, there are 42 million people with HIV infection, 74% of whom live in Africa. Approximately 14 million children are orphans, because both parents have died of AIDS. In the U.S., about 56,000 people are infected with HIV every year. Obviously, the impact of this disease is huge.What can we do to impact this disease? First, we need to keep this topic in our prayers. We need to pray for the researchers who are trying to find a cure, for the people who work in clinics and hospitals trying to treat the victims, and especially for the victims themselves. Second, we should try to remove stigmas that surround this disease. AIDS victims are people suffering from an illness, and they need our love and compassion, period. If we let the stigmas go, it will be much easier to educate people on how to prevent AIDS. Finally, we need to support global efforts to care for the victims of HIV. Several organizations are working to bring low cost medicines to HIV infected persons in developing countries. The United Methodist Church has a longstanding mission project that includes support for children who are orphaned by AIDS. The internet site for this program is www.gbgm-umc.org/health/aids/. These projects need both our prayers and our gifts.Psalm 40:11-13 -- You, O Lord, will not withhold Your compassion from me; Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me. For evils beyond number had surrounded me; My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see; They are more numerous than the hairs on my head, And my heart has failed me. Be pleased, O Lord to deliver me; Make haste, O Lord to help me. (NASB, 1995)
PARISH CARE MINISTRIES
The Willmar United Methodist Church
19th Avenue & 9th Street - Willmar, Minnesota, USA 56201 - office@willmarumc.org - 320-235-5403
