I'm not a doctor, so I can tell you only my experience. I have reduced my consumption of sugars, grains, legumes, and very starchy vegetables (e.g. potatoes, corn) and increased my consumption of fatty fish, coconuts and avocados, including coconut and avocado oils (not olive oil because almost all are fake). The brain is roughly 70% fat. It needs healthy fats to protect and nourish it. Healthy fats also protect and nourish the nerves. Consuming healthy fats has been shown to help with both Alzheimer's and anxiety. And don't be scared of gaining weight. Unlike sugar, fat is very filling. I'm 5'7" and 118 pounds.
Latest research say fat is what your brain needs, after many years of brains being starved of essential fats, dementia rates are increasing. Dr Pearlmutter has a website on fats and dementia as well as grain brain. Good luck.
Tell your doctor about your anxiety and get Lorazapam or alprazolam. I hope I spelled those right. I have two daughters that are pharmacists and these are what they recommend.
Hello, so glad to hear that you are reaching out. I do not have this diagnosis myself, my father does but I did go get tested at a hospital and it turns out I have a learning problem that affects my memory (I had it all of my life, but now it is getting worse due to hormonal changes). I was made to take a 12 week course in meditation to help me to focus and remember at the hospital I was tested at. I am now treating myself with meditation and with the use of sound therapy. There are plenty of studies on sound therapy but you have to learn and figure out how to find and read them and I believe in them as even a hospital here in my city is starting to use this kind of therapy. Here is a link and the product you need to listen to on a CD with headphones every day for a the duration (maybe an hour or less) I listen to it when I am walking, or cleaning up. It increases the ability to recall things and keep things in mind. Also, I joined a local meditation congregation with a Buddhist group, through a local University, which costs only a donation once a week, so I give what I can. It teaches you to meditate so that the mind can be clear of bad thoughts and your breath feeds your brain the oxygen that also helps you to think. It might sound like too much but it is not that bad. I actually like it now and I find that I am not as nervous, upset, or even reactive to stress as I once was. Some of the anxiety may be due to stress and some of the forgetfulness might also be due to stress. My father is not in a home and my mother is the primary caregiver who refuses to put him in a home because of our culture. However, having us kids living near (my sister is near by and me too) to run in and keep on eye to make sure that they are both okay, helping with housework, and laundry, and groceries in the dead of winter is stressful at times as you also want your own life and downtime. I think that exercise is the most crucial and then the sound therapy and meditation, if you are hyper and do not like sitting still, try focused breathing as you walk and learn via YouTube meditation videos prior to going out so you can practice that method as you walk, adapting both the movement and breathe. Keep us posted if you decide to try the sound therapy daily for a month and see an improvement. Or if you have an news.
Hi, in fine fashion, I did not send you the link to my earlier post, I found this to be the most economic way to get sound therapy, if you cannot get into a study, I hear MIT are holding some, google away and see if you can find one. If not, go for this and be open to it as it takes time to take effect, about a few weeks and I am still using them as time goes on. I wish you the best, and good luck and if it is early, it would be nice if it is just like what I have had all of my life, which affects my short term memory especially when I am stressed. So, keep the calm and get the fresh air and exercise as mentioned in my earlier post too. Gamma brainwaves are the ones that they are testing in the hospital I know of, and the theta and alpha brainwaves studies, are good but in my opinion not as good as the Gammas. Go for the gamma! Good luck ... soundstrue.com/store/gamma-meditation-system-2-0-814
HI socoguy! Sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I think the best advise I can give is to realize this is a journey unlike any you have ever taken and those around you should be told immediately. Along with that the advice to get your affairs in order and get the legal stuff done is also sage advice. I wish I had done so sooner with my parents. As to what you wish done with your home or advisement of when to place in a residential facility that is not done in your will nor in your living will. You can make a declaration through your attorney and YES YOU SHOULD hire an attorney to handle these things! Keep a copy of ALL DOCUMENTS in a fire proof lock box, list all accounts, insurance policies, and if you have a safe deposit box where it is located with a key. If you have someone you implicitly trust with your finances get them added to your primary accounts. Set up bill pay online through your bank and have a email account set up for bills to be sent to. This eliminates the pile of mail. Have that trusted person check this weekly with you to ensure you still understand how to check your bills and pay them. This was the first thing that went unnoticed with my mother. She said she had paid bills but I found them unopened and stacked in the linen closet, kitchen cabinets etc. These two things are so vital and having those things known and addressed early on will lessen the anxiety--(while it can still be changed should that trusted person be found out not to be so trustworthy!!) I would also start a "health savings" account for the day when you will have to be placed in long term care, or if you set it up well ahead of time move into an assisted living place and have an automatic deduction from your account to pay for it (no rent/mortgage to deal with. You can then "downsize" your belongings and give them to those who you wish to have them before the fighting and stupidity of family members kicks in. Mom also had that safe deposit box with cash in it for a number of years to pay for unexpected expenses, and there is still some cash left in there should the furnace need replacement or heating oil or whatever. Its also a good idea to keep some cash in that fireproof box. Install safety locks on your appliances ...if you can't figure out how to unlock them you won't use them incorrectly or dangerously. The truth is the more you do now to prepare financially and legally, getting people you know, love and trust involved early on and letting them know that you want them to continue being around you even more is important. Stay active as long as you can, go to the senior center/adult day care when you get more advanced and keep that mind active and social. I like the list idea and encourage you to get a whiteboard or large calendar for the wall you can write on every day. Put signs on the doors/doorways of the house (bathroom, laundry, living room, kitchen) these sound silly but they will reinforce the use of the space as your memory starts to fade. Best wishes and I truly hope before you get to the point where any of this is needed they will have the cure.
Hi, in fine fashion, I did not send you the link to my earlier post, I found this to be the most economic way to get sound therapy, if you cannot get into a study, I hear MIT are holding some, google away and see if you can find one. If not, go for this and be open to it as it takes time to take effect, about a few weeks and I am still using them as time goes on. I wish you the best, and good luck and if it is early, it would be nice if it is just like what I have had all of my life, which affects my short term memory especially when I am stressed. So, keep the calm and get the fresh air and exercise as mentioned in my earlier post too. Gamma brainwaves are the ones that they are testing in the hospital I know of, and the theta and alpha brainwaves studies, are good but in my opinion not as good as the Gammas. Go for the gamma! Good luck ... cut and paste this link: soundstrue.com/store/gamma-meditation-system-2-0-814.html?___SID=U
One of the most important things is to be with an excellent doctor that specializes in this condition. They can help you and for now your anxiety is the issue. I have been through this with my mom.
I agree with the person who said it is different for everyone. Also for the one that suggested getting affairs in order. Also for the one who said eat right, exercise, socialize, get enough sleep. Also for the one that said travel or do things now. Also for the one that said get into organized habits. But I would recommend that for anyone, as the person who said none of us are promised tomorrow. There are some very promising drugs/treatments in the pipeline for people with mild dementia. My father is the poster child for healthy living most of his life (sleep, good nutrition (all the anti-oxidents), exercise) and yet he has Alzheimers. I think he has had it for over 10 years. It's the unknown that we fear. Line up your support system and they will be there for you if/when you need help. You are still in charge of your own life.
Thank you socoguy for reaching out and asking the question. My mother has Alz. And I am a bit fearful that I may get it someday, too. So, I am very glad many posters have shared a lot of good information and advice here.
Here is another article that I hope brings some hope: alzheimersnewstoday.com/2016/04/22/study-alzheimers-patients-finds-low-frequency-sound-stimulation-improves-cognition Albeit, having an MRI is great to find out how the brain is changing over time, there have been studies that show people with similar brain composition, and they do not have any form of dementia. So to me it is very confusing, but choosing to do something to improve your memory, body fat levels, etc. is definitely better in the long run anyway. Happy New Year. May motivation lead to a healthier brain.
I am so sorry. I cannot give you any advice except to pray. Pray that your disease will pause and not get any worse. I use a lot of word games and I keep active on the Internet and Text with my children. Take time to read. Read a lot. Keep your brain going.... I wish they would find a cure to such a sad disease. I PRAY you keep working and it never gets worse.
As for anxiety, watch your breath (inhalation and exhalation) for at least an hour everyday in a comfortable pose with no distractions.