Vanishing Thoughts

Vanishing Thoughts

By:

Dr Madan M Vasandani

           

Is your memory fading away? You cannot remember a number of things – names, phone numbers, birthdays and address or maybe you forgot what you were going to say. Is forgetfulness becoming a part of your routine? Are you known to be absent minded? All this can be normal depending upon your age. The problem is differentiating memory loss that is normal and those that is abnormal.

            Memory loss is part of aging. But there is another group of memory loss that can be pathological. Pathological memory loss is part of a condition called Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, a group of disorders that impairs mental functioning. (Dementia literally means loss of mentation, or thinking.) At the moment, Alzheimer’s is progressive and irreversible. Abnormal changes in the brain worsen over time, eventually interfering with many aspects of brain function. Memory loss is one of the earliest symptoms, along with a gradual decline of other intellectual and thinking abilities, called cognitive functions, and changes in personality or behavior.

Here are some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease:

1. Memory loss: Forgetting recently learned information is one of the most common early signs of dementia. A person begins to forget more often and is unable to recall the information later.

What’s normal? Forgetting names or appointments occasionally.

2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks: People with dementia often find it hard to plan or complete everyday tasks. Individuals may lose track of the steps involved in preparing a meal, placing a telephone call or playing a game.
What’s normal? Occasionally forgetting why you came into a room or what you planned to say.

3. Problems with language: People with Alzheimer’s disease often forget simple words or substitute unusual words, making their speech or writing hard to understand. They may be unable to find the toothbrush, for example, and instead ask for “the thing for my mouth.”
What’s normal? Forgetting names or appointments occasionally.

4. Disorientation to time and place: People with Alzheimer’s disease can become lost in their own neighborhood, forget where they are and how they got there, and not know how to get home.
What’s normal? Forgetting the day of the week or where you were going.

5. Poor or decreased judgment: Those with Alzheimer’s may dress inappropriately, wearing several layers on a warm day or little clothing in the cold. The may show poor judgment, like giving away large sums of money to telemarketers.
What’s normal? Making a questionable or debatable decision from time to time.

6. Problems with abstract thinking: Someone with Alzheimer’s disease may have unusual difficulty performing complex mental tasks, like forgetting what numbers are for and how they should be used.
What’s normal? Finding it challenging to balance a checkbook.

7. Misplacing things: A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places: an iron in the freezer a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.
What’s normal? Misplacing keys or wallet temporarily.

8. Change in mood or behavior: Someone with Alzheimer’s disease may show rapid mood swings—from calm to tears to anger—for no apparent reason.
What’s normal? Occasionally feeling sad or moody.

9. Changes in personality: The personalities of people with dementia can change dramatically. They may become extremely confused, suspicious, fearful or dependent on a family member.
What’s normal? People’s personalities do change somewhat with age.

10. Loss of initiative: A person with Alzheimer’s disease may become very passive, sitting in front of the TV for hours, sleeping more than usual or not wanting to do usual activities.
What’s normal? Sometimes feeling weary of work or social obligations.

            If you feel that your memory loss is abnormal, please consult a doctor. Remember if Alzheimer’s disease is detected early, its progress can be minimized by using appropriate medications. Do not take your memory loss lightly.