Dementia and Alzheimers

By M. Chris Wolf, PH.D.

Dementia and Alzheimers are two words no one wants to hear, especially when referring to themselves or a loved one. The thought of slowly losing memory of the people that you love, the places that you have traveled and even how to button up a shirt can be a tough reality for anyone to face.

Dementia is not defined as an actual disease. Instead, it is defined as a cluster of different symptoms that affect a person's abilities to function every day. Some symptoms can include loss of memory and slurred or difficulty with speech. Many different factors can cause a person to have symptoms of dementia including stroke, trauma and Alzheimers disease. Alzheimers is one common cause of dementia.

Many people believe in the hypothesis that exercising the brain can actually increase things such as memory, concentration and cognitive abilities. By keeping the brain fit and in the best shape possible, people will be better able to keep the brain sharp so that dementia and Alzheimers will not be an issue.

There are many ways brain fitness exercises are thought to help keep brain functions intact and lucid. Certain sports and dances teach spatial skills so that you can accurately associate the distance of certain objects or the inside of a home. Sports and painting also use many areas of the brain to be able to perform all the skills required to complete the activity.

There are also many games designed specifically to treat or prevent many of the symptoms of dementia and Alzheimers. Some of these games help with the auditory and visual parts of the brain. Some of the auditory games can potentially help with better thinking ability and a sharper, faster memory. Many of the visual games can potentially help with what your brain takes in, how you respond to it and what you remember from the experience.

Although dementia and Alzheimers are different, both terms are not words that you want to hear a doctor say to you or anyone that you may know and love. Many doctors may focus on prevention of a more common illness or problems such as heart disease, diabetes or asthma. Even if brain problems may not be on the top of your doctor's list of preventative illnesses, especially if you are young, it can be something that you pay attention to in your life. Just as you keep your body in shape, you can keep your memory in shape as well. Brain fitness can be just as important as body fitness.

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Anosmia

Alzheimer's Treatment

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Medication Communication

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