Ida Thoenig is dealt 10 cards (D,R,O,T,G,D,O,H,IN,TH) and asked to make as many words as possible out of them. It’s all part of a game called Quiddler, which she learned less than two years ago.
Thoenig comes up with THIN, HOG and TROD, using all but one of the letters. And at 92 years old, she’s pretty happy about that. “We play three times a week,” she says.
“And the main thing is to keep you thinking.” Research backs this up. People once assumed forgetfulness and a decrease in cognitive abilities were just part of the aging process. We now know that’s not the case. In fact, brain issues like dementia might have many risk factors, like heart disease. By focusing on prevention, we are likely to minimize
our risk of developing the illness.
“The good thing is we do have control over our brains,” says Heather Stapelmann, resident care coordinator for the Memory
Care Unit of St. Mary’s Care Center. “People need to keep in mind there are normal memory and cognitive declines with aging, but those are very minimal. So if you are have some memory issues, you need to rule out more definitive disease processes before you can just chalk it up to old age.”
Stapelmann says many reversible conditions can cause memory issues — depression, thyroid disorders and vitamin deficiencies, for example. Treating these conditions can often relieve some of the memory problems.
“My oldest gal was 105, and she had some memory issues when she first came to the Care Center, but after identifying and treating her conditions, it was very clear she didn’t have cognitive issues,” says Stapelmann.
“This resident was just one example of how sharp your brain really is when you’re older.”
Now that doesn’t mean our brains at age 105 are just as sharp as they were at 15. In fact, every 10 years our brains naturally shrink in size by about 2.5 percent. By about age 50, that can lead to normal cognitive changes like occasional memory lapses or a need to focus a little harder on tasks. For the most part, though, these changes are minor.
“Get to your doctor if you’re noticing things that just don’t seem right,” says Stapelmann, “like changes in personality —
drastic changes. People shouldn’t be having word-finding problems. But they can with dementias. Getting in and getting some tests done with doctors like a simple memory screen are routine health checkups that should be done when you’re noticing any mental health issues.”
Other signs you should see your doctor include misplacing things — not losing your keys once in a while, but actually placing things where they shouldn’t be like a remote control in your freezer, for instance. Or, if you’re trying to focus hard on one thing and you just can’t or keep forgetting, that’s another indication you should seek medical help.
So what can you do to minimize your chance of developing dementia?Stapelmann says it’s a good idea to keep your brain active. “Exercise your mind. Keep learning new things: read, do crossword puzzles, word finds, anything that stimulates your brain and your thinking.”
Physical exercise, walking, swimming or bicycle riding, for example, also are beneficial.
Studies show that people who regularly get exercise have a much lower risk of Alzheimer’s. The same is true for people
who stay socially active. Getting together with friends, playing games or even just sitting together and talking are all great brain workouts.
Eating healthy foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids also has been shown to be protective against cognitive problems. Many types of fish and nuts are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
And finally, lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure levels can have a positive impact as well. High blood pressure and high cholesterol levels raise a person’s risk of heart disease because they contribute to plaque accumulation on blood vessel walls. The same is true in the brain where plaque contributes to a condition known as vascular dementia.
But, you can live to a ripe old age with very little memory loss if you play your cards right like Thoenig. “Some days I feel 100 and some days 50,” she says. “The important thing is to keep active in sports and whatever you do.”