An old problem?

Lutheran, The, Jun 1999 by Stites, Clyde

Memory loss ranges from miniscule to massive as we age. What can we do about

i'm in my 50s and increasingly forgetting all sorts of things. Mainly I have trouble with people's names, where I put my car keys and what I was supposed to buy at the grocery store. I'm reminded of the old joke: My pastor asks if I ever think about the hereafter. I answer, "Yes, all the time-when I walk out to the garage, into the kitchen or open the door to the fridge and ask myself, What am I here after?"'

On a more serious and personal note, my dad suffered almost complete memory loss. Slumping forward in his wheelchair, his head permanently tilted to the left, he would study me, struggling to recall who I was. If it happened to him, why not me?

But it's not just getting older that causes memory loss. The long-held belief that the loss of brain cells (neurons) alone causes common age-related memory loss is less certain today. Stress, alcohol abuse, smoking, blows to the head (brain damage), strokes, exposure to chemicals, fatigue and side effects of medication all play a part. In particular, prescriptions for treating high blood pressure can reduce memory capacity for many.

How we feel determines how we think, and the effect of our emotions upon our ability to remember is immense. Many people who worry about memory loss become depressed, and depressed people find their memory failing. Often people who discuss their concerns with their doctor have normal memory retention but suffer from depression or mood disorders. The American Association of Retired Persons maintains that clinical depression may affect 15 percent of adults over age 62.

Other inhibitors to memory function are diminished vision and hearing. As it becomes more difficult to listen and read books, newspapers and letters, people become isolated, socially and intellectually undernourished.

Studies of common memory loss indicate that about one-third of people between 60 and 80 will experience some loss of explicit memory, that is, information that has been intentionally acquired. "By age 85, as many as half of us will be mentally impaired to some degree," writes Steven Austad in Why We Age (John Wiley & Sons, 1997).

But memory loss doesn't start on the day we receive our first Social Security check. It starts in our 30s. Age-related brain cell loss doesn't take place in the cerebral cortex, where thinking occurs. So intellectual gains -through life experiences and insights-continue despite memory loss.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of serious memory loss. But it's not that prevalent. About 2.5 million Americans suffer from this irreversible condition in which brain cells die progressively. Treatments address the symptoms, but a cure doesn't exist. The medical attitude on Alzheimer's disease is that it's not a normal consequence of aging.

Time to call the doctor

Often it's friends and family who first provide kindly nudges about forgetting too much. If you're worrying about memory loss or having difficulty with your normal activities, it's time to talk with your physician. A professional evaluation can measure the extent and probable cause of memory loss and explore treatment options. Too often people are reluctant to seek medical help for fear that Alzheimer's disease or another serious mental condition will be diagnosed. Remember that treatment for some memory loss-especially by addressing the contributing causes-- is effective.

Those who profit from the huge market of "natural" remedies-herbal and vitamin-publish claims of the most promising benefits. Some unbiased studies are being conducted. For example, in a long-term study at the University of Basel in Switzerland, researchers found that higher blood levels of vitamin C and beta-carotene improve memory.

Caution is recommended before swallowing pills-or any manufacturer's claims. The Federal Drug Administration doesn't regulate herbal supplements. Just because they aren't prescription medications, doesn't mean they're not powerful or without side effects.

Remember to help yourself

The proven advice, "write it down," has been supercharged by the techno-- tool called a personal digital assistant. The memory minder stores an address book with names and phone numbers, appointments, "to do" lists, expense tracking, birthday reminders, medications and more. The small battery-- powered devices start at $200.

And don't forget these low-tech techniques:

Pay more attention: Give thought to what you are doing.

Rehearse in your mind: Repeat what you want to remember.

Chunk: Organize complex or large amounts of information into smaller sections.

Use cues: Use familiar visual pictures or a more easily recallable word as a memory hook.

Get organized: Store those items that you're always misplacing-such as car keys-in fixed locations.

Stites writes from his home in West Linn, Ore., and is a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church, Lake Oswego, Ore.