Memory loss in the aged

January 9, 2013 By

Q: I am 72-years old and can’t remember things. I also can’t pay my bills. I want to have a brain scan but wonder what you would suggest. Thank you.

A: The most common reasons to order a brain scan include looking for an aneurysm, tumor, bleeding, causes for headaches, skull fractures and diseases or disorders affecting the skull or blood vessels within the brain. Therefore, this would not likely be the way to begin in most instances, but given your age and cognitive decline, it may be an appropriate part of a workup.

Despite our ages, we all forget things at times. I prefer to tell people I have overloaded circuits when I forget meetings or birthdays. I’m not sure this is accurate but we all forget now and then. We lose our car keys or forget where we put a note, meet someone and draw a blank as to his or her name, forget to take our vitamins or prescription drugs in the [Read more...]

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Is CSV to blame?

October 30, 2012 By

Q: I am a middle-aged female. I recently went to my family doctor because I have been feeling run down, tired, and have been having trouble with my memory. My blood pressure has been running higher than normal and I have gained 40 pounds in just three to four months with no change in my diet. I have also suffered with migraines for many years which I was told were menstrual related.

My doctor ordered blood work and the results were that I had a high CSV level and my vitamin B12 level was too low. She sent me to a hematologist who started me on weekly B12 shots. He reran the blood tests and the results came back with a high CSV level but my B12 was back to normal. He said my symptoms were not CSV-related and referred me to an endocrinologist. That specialist said my thyroid level was in the normal range but started me on Synthroid.
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Is Tamoxifen linked with memory loss?

July 10, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am hoping that since there seems to be almost an epidemic of breast cancer diagnoses and now plenty of women are taking the drug Tamoxifen, that you can address an issue. I browsed your topics online and didn’t find anything about it.

I was diagnosed and treated for invasive breast cancer (small and no lymph node involvement) late 2010. I am 52 years old and at the time wasn’t experiencing menopause. After a lumpectomy and approximately seven weeks of radiation, I am hoping this is all behind me. In March 2011, I started taking Tamoxifen, which I understand is protocol for non-menopausal women and I will continue to take it daily for five years. I have read and talked to my doctors about some of the side effects, such as hot flashes and leg cramps. The hot flashes have come, as has (it seems) menopause. [Read more...]

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Coconut oil likely won’t help memory loss

April 28, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I would like to know what you know about pure coconut oil being a good supplement for improving several kinds of dementia. My husband and I are both in our early 80s and don’t have many health problems but recently we have been concerned about memory problems. We saw a webmail and video about a doctor’s husband having Alzheimer’s. She gave him pure coconut oil and he improved over a period of time. Our primary doctors have given us both memory tests and will be checking us regularly in follow-up.

DEAR READER: Coconut oil is a tropical oil made from the nut of the coconut palm tree. One single tablespoon of the oil contains 117 calories – not a big deal – but 13.6 grams of fat, which is. Over the years the product has been touted as a cure-all for hypothyroidism, heart health, Alzheimer’s disease, as an energy boost, weight loss product, and a great deal more. [Read more...]

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Can any product really help the aging brain?

December 31, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have seen ads about Procera AVH for memory help. Do you have an opinion or know of any other “something” that might help?

DEAR READER: As we age, the brain loses its capability to function at optimal capacity. It has millions of neurotransmitters, vital for communication. With aging, those neurotransmitters become damaged, resulting in poor concentration and decreased memory capabilities.

Procera AVH is touted as a brain health supplement for anyone who suffers from poor memory, has mental fatigue, or difficulty focusing. It’s a non-prescription supplement developed by a clinical research scientist and a physician who have teamed up with neurosurgeons, [Read more...]

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Are sodium level and memory loss linked?

November 14, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Can memory loss be caused by a sodium level of 120?

DEAR READER: Sodium is a mineral vital to normal body functioning. It maintains appropriate water and mineral balances and assists nerves and muscles. It is naturally found in grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy and meats in low amounts. Most processed foods have high amounts of salt to enhance flavor and many people add salt to food, either during cooking or once at the table. Sodium is commonly consumed at five times the required amount. For this reason, consequences of high sodium intakes and blood levels are the most commonly discussed issues.
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Ativan can affect memory

September 29, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Your article on Ativan was interesting and informative. From a personal point of view, I would like to tell you that my wife, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease for some 12 years now, was prescribed Ativan while recovering from a radical mastectomy/chemotherapy/radiation. The prescription continued for six years.

During an evaluation at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI Gerontology Center, she was advised that Ativan is a destroyer of short-term memory. That fact and the damage done to the entire body by chemo and by estrogen earlier in prior years, coupled with a sedentary lifestyle, all played a part in the development of Alzheimer’s, in my opinion.
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Research advances support staying the course

May 21, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: My 73-year-old father seems rather forgetful these days. When I took him to his doctor, he was diagnosed with pre-Alzheimer’s disease. I’ve heard of Alzheimer’s, but what exactly is pre-Alzheimer’s?

DEAR READER: It is estimated that more than 5 million Americans suffer from a form of Alzheimer’s, the leading cause of dementia in the Western world. There are new guidelines available for diagnosing early-stage Alzheimer’s (pre-Alzheimer’s), indicating that a state of mental decline can begin years prior to the occurrence of other, more classic symptoms.
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Drug trial doesn’t help Alzheimer’s patient

May 12, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: My wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia about five years ago. The current drugs being prescribed are galantamine, Namenda and citalopram. Other than Alzheimer’s, her overall health is good.

Shortly after being diagnosed, she placed in her age class at the Bloomsday road race. We were both runners. Anyway, her height is 5 feet 5 inches, her weight is 115 pounds, and her blood pressure is normal.
Is there any other possible course of treatment? We have been to specialists and more. We did participate in the failed dimebon trial.
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Sundowner’s linked to Alzheimer’s

May 5, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Please write something on sundowner’s syndrome. It seems as though this is fairly common. Thank you for all the great information I have read.

DEAR READER: Sundowner’s, or sundowning, is confusion that generally occurs late in the day, although it has been known to occur during early-morning hours as well. The cause appears elusive and is often misunderstood.

The disorder is commonly seen in hospital or nursing-home settings where an older individual may be forced to adjust to a different setting. Or, in some cases, it can manifest following illness or surgery. Sundowner’s may be temporary for some but prolonged in other instances. [Read more...]

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