The problem of memory loss can be disturbing at any time, but most often it is observed in people of advanced age. Memories can get worse due to sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, dementia. Amnesia is possible due to injury and other causes. There are a huge number of diseases worrying in old age that adversely affect the functioning of the brain. Consider general information.
Age and health
The older the person, the higher the likelihood of the onset of the disease. Over the years, irreversible processes occur in the body that negatively affect different functions of life. The human memory has not been sufficiently studied yet, but it is known for certain: the older the person, the higher the danger of pathologies that worsen it. Of course, memory failures can be observed in those whose age is average and young. There is infant amnesia. However, this does not mean that cases related to old age deserve less attention. Memory is a connecting link between an individual, his past, present, future. Memory is necessary for adequate adaptation to society. Without knowing your name, loved ones, it is extremely difficult for a person to adapt to the world around him. In adulthood, memories are lost in a relatively large number of people, and this is well illustrated by the statistics of cases of amnesia.
While doctors are not well aware of the diseases of old age, they can hardly formulate what processes are disturbed in the brain over the years. Accordingly, memory loss is a poorly investigated phenomenon. Amnesia can be prolonged, or can affect only a short time period. It is possible to lose memory partially. Memories can elude a person completely.
Where and why?
Several reasons have been established for amnesia in old age. The disease can be explained by mental factors, human physiology. If he suffers from a chronic illness, the consequences may be the most negative. In particular, a deterioration in mental activity is possible, due to which memory disappears. Amnesia can provoke a head injury, due to which the functionality of the organ is impaired. Violations can be explained by age-related changes, problems of the working capacity of the nervous system. A sedentary life, monotonous work, metabolic and blood flow problems, malnutrition, bad habits play a role. Possible loss of memory due to the introduction of an infectious agent, due to constant lack of sleep, agitation, depressed mental status. Amnesia is more likely if a person has suffered from meningitis, stroke, and suffers from epileptic seizures.
Of the mental and psychological factors that provoke illness in old age, regular stresses, dissatisfaction with oneself and one's life, and lack of attention from relatives are worth noting. If overexcitation often worries, if a person is lethargic, feels chronic tired, the probability of amnesia for him is above average. Similar risks are indicated by thoughtfulness. An individual, prone to such moments, is inclined to act mechanically, not paying attention to his actions, therefore, what is done is simply not imprinted in memory.
How to notice a problem?
It can be assumed that, in old age, a brain-related illness starts to bother, if at times the mind gets confused. A person characterizes this with the phrase "everything mixed up in my head." Often, short-term amnesia occurs during this period. Speech disturbances are possible. They are often disturbed due to dementia, trauma. These flaws are very often combined with memory problems. Scientists have found that this is due to a violation of the normal state of the Broca site, responsible for the work of the language. At the same time, difficulties in concentration are possible. Symptom often accompanies the consequences of infection, may indicate a tumor process in the brain tissue.
Among the diseases of boxers in old age, there is often a loss of memory, dementia. This is due to the high probability of injury during training and performances. The result is almost always a transient headache. She may be disturbed for some time after receiving an injury, then become silent for many years and come back again when a person has already left his career due to his advanced age. At the same time, an old man's head may hurt due to infection.
Symptoms Noteworthy
Some features may indicate the possibility of amnesia even if there is no such problem so far. So, the risk of memory loss is indicated by diseases of the elderly in old age, leading to the inability to properly navigate, coordinate movements. Often this is accompanied by a violation of visual memories. It is difficult for a person to identify the place in which he is located. Many have problems with concentration. This condition very often indicates the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
It is possible to suspect that memory loss may disturb, if tremor is observed, often dizzy. A person who is threatened by amnesia often feels tired. He is characterized by a bad mood, lack of interest in life.
About varieties
If due to illness the memory in old age has become worse, you need to see a doctor. The doctor will first determine what type of pathology is. Short-term failures or a prolonged loss of memories are possible. It is customary to talk about the retro-, anterograde type, about the complete loss or loss of only a part. Sudden amnesia is possible. If the likelihood of a gradual process. A global loss is observed when a person cannot remember anything experienced, unable to remember what is happening at the moment. Selective amnesia occurs when single events suddenly pop up in memory. It also happens that a person cannot recognize human faces. At times, he may feel that the person he meets is the one he had seen before. At the same time, all attempts to remember who it is, fail.
What to do?
If a close relative has started such a disease when you forget everything in old age, the task of relatives is to provide adequate assistance. Often, you can count on recovering your memory if you start treatment on time. It is very difficult to calculate success in each case in advance, too individually. Collaborating with the doctor, determine the cause of the condition, select measures to eliminate it. If there is an injury, it must be cured in a timely manner. If memory is lost due to alcohol, the patient should be given up alcoholic beverages. If a person is faced with severe stress, a change in the situation and psychological environment can help restore memory. In many ways, the success of treatment is determined by the family. In the general case, therapy necessarily includes kind words and constant conversations. You need to watch photos with an elderly person, immerse yourself in memories together. Performing daily activities together and walking with the patient, preparing your favorite dishes, you can gradually eliminate the manifestations of the disease. If due to an illness a person loses some skills, such interaction with relatives helps to restore them.
What helps?
If memory impairment is a consequence of Parkinson's disease in old age, drugs can help. They are prescribed for dementia or amnesia. It is strictly forbidden to take drugs on your own - you can do harm. The doctor, prescribing medication, proceeds from the root cause of memory impairment. They can advise Vitrum Memori. This is a means by which the brain receives more oxygen molecules. Saturation of tissues with glucose improves. In addition, while taking the drug, the ability to concentrate is increased, and vision is better.
To improve brain activity may recommend "Aminalon." This drug stabilizes the ongoing biochemical processes in the brain tissue. Its reception allows you to increase the intelligibility of speech. Intenal is sometimes useful. It is available in capsule form and in the form of syrup. The remedy is prescribed if, at the same time as memory impairment, tinnitus disturbs, if the patient's condition is suppressed, he often worries about dizziness.
Ginko Biloba, Cavinton, Bilobil, Memantine have a good reputation. Sometimes the doctor advises taking Nootropil. As experience shows, many drugs “Divaza”, “Mexidol” help. Exelon and Reminyl are known for their good effect.
Alternative approach
Recently, several effective computer methods have appeared that allow you to restore a person's ability to remember normally. These are quite expensive events, not accessible to everyone.
If a person more often wonders why there are a lot of diseases in old age, if he is worried about the worsened ability to remember what happened, and there is no way to spend money on expensive medicinal methods, you can try to resort to recipes of traditional medicine. It is believed that memory improves if you regularly drink mint and sage infusion. Useful infusion of clover. You can pour dried thyme with boiling water. The mixture is insisted for a quarter of an hour and used orally three times a day instead of the usual tea. To improve the taste, honey is used.
You can make a homemade medicine with Eleutherococcus. 40 g of dried rhizomes are poured into 600 ml of boiling water, boiled for 10 minutes. The finished drink is consumed in a glass four times a day.
Boiling a liter of water, add 50 g of dried walnut foliage to the liquid and insist for a quarter of an hour. The resulting herbal fruit drink three times daily in a glass. Infusions with dill seeds, potatoes, and rowan bark are also useful.
Important aspects
If you start to worry about memory-related diseases, it’s especially important in old age to eat well. The diet should contain nuts, fish and fresh berries, especially wild ones. Useful carrot. It is necessary to diversify the menu so that the body receives all the necessary vitamins. In old age, dark chocolate is especially needed. Do not neglect zucchini, broccoli and different varieties of cabbage.
Regular moderate exercise, such as gymnastics every morning, will benefit. As the doctors say, at the first sign of memory loss, you need to start memorizing literature. You can do foreign languages. Useful games, dancing, walking, visiting new places. People of advanced age are especially recommended crosswords. By regularly training your memory, you can keep your brain in good condition. Then you don’t have to find out for yourself what diseases attack the head in old age. If there are stress factors, you need to consult a doctor for the selection of a suitable safe sedative.
About Diseases
It has long been known what health problems are more likely to provoke memory loss in old age. The list of diseases rightly begins with Peak's disease. With it, atrophy covers the frontal lobe, whiskey. The disease is detected in people 50-60 years old. The average life expectancy after a manifestation is about a decade.
The same list includes senile dementia. This disease in common people is called senile senility. Because of it, the psyche changes, a person becomes depressed. Speech, memory, thinking suffer. Attention worsens, a person reasoning strangely. From the very first manifestations, such dementia greatly affects the quality of life. The patient needs comprehensive support from doctors and relatives.
One of the first places on the list of diseases that threaten with special strength in old age is Alzheimer's disease. With him, memory becomes worse gradually. A person gradually loses the skills of everyday life. Risk group - persons over 60 years old. The first symptom of Alzheimer's is short-term amnesia. A man with difficulty learns new information. Gradually, periods of forgetfulness lengthen, speech becomes worse. About the progress of the disease says the inability to navigate in time, terrain. The patient loses self-care skills, all body functions deteriorate.
Alzheimer's disease
If you ask the layman what the disease is called, which affects people very often in old age, he will probably remember Alzheimer's among the first. This is one of the varieties of dementia, and it occurs more often than others. Pathology belongs to the category of neurodegenerative. The official description was drawn up in 1907. More often, the disease is detected in those over 65, but there is a rare form of the early type. If in 2006 there were 26.6 million officially registered patients, by 2050 there will probably be four times as many.
Like premature disease, in old age Alzheimer's pathology begins with subtle manifestations. Regression is usually relatively slow, but steady. At an early stage, short-term memory suffers first, a person can hardly remember what he learned very recently. As the disease progresses, amnesia spreads to long-term memories. Speech problems are fixed, cognitive functions suffer. The patient does not focus on the terrain, can not support himself. The progress of the disease is fatal.
Is it scary or not?
Suspecting Alzheimer's disease accompanied by memory loss in old age, you need to see a doctor. The doctor will prescribe cognitive tests. MRI is indicated. It is very difficult to make a forecast in advance, as the course and duration vary greatly among different people. A very long hidden stage without manifestations is possible. On average, people are seven years after being diagnosed. About 3% live more than 14 years after diagnosis.
Although many people know about the name of the disease, they have heard about memory loss in old age both in educational institutions and through the media, yet no one can say where it comes from. Scientists are still trying to identify all the causes. There is not even an accurate idea of the development of the disease. It has been established that the main role is played by amyloid plaques that accumulate in the brain tissues.
About therapy
It is impossible to list all articles in newspapers and magazines, materials in scientific and journalistic literature on Alzheimer's disease, which leads to loss of memory in old age. Most of our compatriots probably know the name of the disease, and many know this, because pathology was detected in relatives and friends. The treatment problem lies in the lack of funds that would completely eliminate the pathology. Modern techniques are aimed at relieving symptoms. While there are no drugs that would help rule out the progress of the disease. Even slowing it down is not possible.
Information on promising new drugs appears regularly, but at the stage of clinical testing, most of them are ineffective. More than once the media reported the cessation of work on funds that seemed to the public particularly promising. Mostly inefficiency proves the stage of comparison with the placebo group, proving that each new development does not give anything. This is due to the problem of misunderstanding the pathological processes that lead to the disease.
What to do?
In Alzheimer's disease, the main task is to ease the symptoms. Combinations of memantine and cholinesterase inhibiting substances that differ in their central effect are combined (now there are three such compounds). The first officially approved drug was Tacrine. Today, with severe dementia, Donepezil is used. This is the only remedy allowed in this pathological condition. If the disease is accompanied by severe behavioral disorders, antipsychotics are additionally prescribed. They moderately weaken aggressive impulses, eliminate psychosis. Given the abundance of side effects, drugs in this group are prescribed as rarely as possible. Be that as it may, scientists have not yet found a solution to this problem, but are actively conducting research that should change the current state of things.