My ex-wife forgot our daughter's name....

[chess9]

She's been having failing memory issues for some time. She has talked to her doctor about it, but she refuses to have any testing done because she says she doesn't want to know any more. She doesn't know who her father was or what diseases he may have had.

She called me very upset about not remembering our daughter's name when having a drink with the girls last night.

She asked about memory supplements, and all I knew were fish oil and ginkgo biloba. She asked about coconut oil as she'd seen a story about it.

Has anyone here tried memory supplements? Do they work?

My problem is I can't forget. I have some memories I'd like to forget.

-Robert

 

[Mike Cottrill]

She called me very upset about not remembering our daughter's name when having a drink with the girls last night.

-Robert

Did she remember later or did you have to tell her?

 

[chess9]

She finally came up with it after about 15 minutes!

She gets NO exercise.

She has LOW HDL, I just found out from her after doing some research and asking her.

She gets lost in her car. Doesn't remember where she is.

I did her taxes for her and she missed a lot of income, so I had to prepare a 1040x for her.

She loses her keys almost daily. She can't balance her checkbook. She's always overdrawn at the bank. But she makes almost $90,000 a year. (Amazing considering she loses documents all the time....)

She also has bad depression. She's on some new anti-depression med this week after she exploded at our daughter over nothing.

Since her 50's she's been struggling with this issue.

I just insisted in an email to her that she get to the doctor next week. I offered to drive her there.

-Robert

 

[Mike Cottrill]

Chess,
It seems to me your on the right track. Getting to doctor is imperative.
Hopefully it is just the meds or depression. Mixing alcohol and those meds is not a good idea either. I’m sure she is scared and feels helpless. She knows something is wrong but is scared and in denial. Don’t be surprised if you have a hard time getting her in the car.

 

[chess9]

Thanks, Mike. Yes, and now I'm worried. I know how poorly she's cared for her health over the years. It's very odd. I'm a workout fanatic, and she never has done any sports or training. 30 years of marriage and I couldn't get her to change. Wouldn't eat right, smoked occasionally, drank excessively too often, etc.

She was a beautiful woman too. When we were engaged, we'd walk into a room together and I'd introduce her to my friends as my fiance, and my buddies would look at me, look at her, look at me, and say "you are kidding, right?". She was a knockout. Looked a lot like Elizabeth Taylor with the same figure, though taller. Black hair, hazel flashing eyes, white skin, perfect teeth. And a wicked sense of humor....

All gone.....

-Robert

 

[Mike Cottrill]

We can tell you still care about her.. I’m sure down inside someplace the woman you knew when you first met is still there. I know what you mean about some memories won’t go away. Life is so cruel sometimes.

 

[snoopy]

I came across this post earlier in the week. It's some food for thought.

http://freetheanimal.com/2009/08/alzheimers-and-ketone-bodies-from-coconut-oil.html

 

[Cindysphinx]

Oh, Chess. I don't have any helpful ideas, but I wanted you to know how sorry I am to hear this is happening to you.

 

[chess9]

I came across this post earlier in the week. It's some food for thought.

http://freetheanimal.com/2009/08/alzheimers-and-ketone-bodies-from-coconut-oil.html

Brilliant! Very interesting too, eh?

"But, there's another way to produce ketones than going ultra-low carb and producing them as the by-product of your own fat metabolism. You can just eat a lot of saturated fat, and one of the richest source of saturated fat is coconut oil."

I have just now forwarded that great piece to her and our daughter.

Our daughter just took her some fish oil in 500mg gel capsules. I suggested to start on one per day with that modest dose. I take 1200mg a day without any problem. Does anyone think that's not appropriate?

I've also suggested she strictly limit her sugar intake, and take a protein shake once a day. Oh, and my daughter is looking for a liquid multivitamin for her, as she hates pills.

She just said she would go to the doctor as soon as she can get an appointment. My daughter will go with her and take notes and get back to me.

She refuses to take Ginkgo Biloba. Too many pills, she says.

Snoopy, you are a gem! Many thanks!

My fear is that all of this is too late, given her 61 years of bad habits, and her Irish stubborness. We will see.

-Robert

 

[chess9]

Oh, Chess. I don't have any helpful ideas, but I wanted you to know how sorry I am to hear this is happening to you.

Thanks, CinCin. Well, this is part of growing old, eh? I'm just happy she doesn't have PF. Now, that would be tragic!

-Robert

 

[ollinger]

Board certified in geriatric (and general) psychiatry -- at your service. If dementia has been diagnosed, fish oil may be of a bit of value in slowing the course of it, and ginko has been shown to have a bit of value in improving memory performance acutely (ginko curiously had no effect on non-demented control subjects.) The prescription meds fall into two classes -- Namenda, a class of one, and the three cholinergic stimulators, reminyl, exelon and aricept. There's adequate data showing that Namenda may slow the deterioration (but not cause IMPROVEMENT) and most experts in the field think it's worth using. It almost never has side effects. Conversely, the three cholinergic drugs may acutely cause some benefit (if you don't see it within a week, you won't) but don't ultimately affect the progression of the illness. Most experts say "be my guest" but don't consider the benefit of those three drugs significant enough to really matter. The most common side effects are GI distress and sometimes motor (Parkinsonian-like) symptoms.

 

[chess9]

Board certified in geriatric (and general) psychiatry -- at your service. If dementia has been diagnosed, fish oil may be of a bit of value in slowing the course of it, and ginko has been shown to have a bit of value in improving memory performance acutely (ginko curiously had no effect on non-demented control subjects.) The prescription meds fall into two classes -- Namenda, a class of one, and the three cholinergic stimulators, reminyl, exelon and aricept. There's adequate data showing that Namenda may slow the deterioration (but not cause IMPROVEMENT) and most experts in the field think it's worth using. It almost never has side effects. Conversely, the three cholinergic drugs may acutely cause some benefit (if you don't see it within a week, you won't) but don't ultimately affect the progression of the illness. Most experts say "be my guest" but don't consider the benefit of those three drugs significant enough to really matter. The most common side effects are GI distress and sometimes motor (Parkinsonian-like) symptoms.

Thanks for that information, Ollie! I'd better not give it to her, eh, but will share it with my daughter. I'll let her doctor, or the referred specialist (Would that be a psychiatrist?) break the news to her, IF she's diagnosed with dementia. My daughter, who spends more time with her than I do, thinks she's got strong indications of Alzheimer's. I've only mentioned a few of the things she's done that have been indicative, but it's been a long and strongly accumulating path of inability to remember, find her way, do simple math chores, and deal with the normal problems we all face from an emotional standpoint. So far, her verbal skills have remained solid, and she works as a senior paralegal still for a very large law firm, which makes me wonder if my daughter and I are jumping to conclusions. Of course, that's why we are taking her to a doctor, eh?

Nonetheless, those drugs slow the progression, but don't cure, eh? Do some people show more effect than others? In other words, can you almost stop it?

This must all come from her unknown father's side of the family because her mother's side is all Irish alcoholics who were sharp as tacks til the day they died.

Many thanks, again.

-Robert

 

[ollinger]

There's nothing currently available that stops the progression. Two companies, one Japanese and one German, are currently testing drugs that dissolve something called the Tau protein that accumulates in the brains of Alzheimers victims. They claim these drugs actually stop the progression of the disease. The amount of testing still required unfortunately means about 2 1/2 to 3 years before the drugs could become available.

 

[onehandbh]

check out www.alz.org. some useful information there.

one of my ex's (ex-gf, not wife) sounds a little like your ex.
totally took her health and looks for granted. ate like crap, didn't
exercise, drank, etc. the funny thing is that she's a model (runway & print)
and makes her living from her looks. she had a naturally fast metabolism
and the crappy diet didn't effect her weight but i told her that just being
thin doesn't necessarily mean she's as healthy as she could be.
fortunately, she eventually saw the light and now exercises and eats
slightly better. i think it was just hard for her to see the benefit of living
more healthily when the way she was living wasn't affecting her livelihood
or looks.

 

[charliefedererer]

Robert,
I'm sorry to hear your ex-wife is having memory problems.
Of course getting her checked out medically is absolutely essential.
But memory deterioation may be multifactorial, with mental stress, side effects from medication, poor diet, and the cumulative effects of alchohol all contributing factors.
Bless you for hanging in there with her during what must be a frightening time for her.

 

[Eph]

I'm so sorry. My grandfather has dementia and it's the most difficult thing I've ever experienced.

Things that help:

Doing crosswords, learning a new language, eating healthy, exercise.

That can *help*, but not cure.

I'm really sorry. :/

 

[chess9]

Thanks for the support guys. She's a good woman, and of course one hates to see these sort of problems for anyone.
We have been friends the last 4 years despite the divorce.
Meanwhile, she's lost her new iPhone....

-Robert

 

[supertrex]

If you dont mind me asking whats her job? $90k a year? thats a lot of responsibility salary. Anyways if she have her own firm or business nevermind my intrusion.

I see that you remember all the good stuff with her, sounds like shes also scared to know more. You should try your best to convince her to know the cause and accept it and work on it. If she gets stubborn just be stubborn yourself and try different things to convice her on getting help done. Prolly a Brain MRI will be request by her doctor.

Anyways have you seen the movie " The Notebook" ?

Supplements can help, but at the same time using a lot of thinking like doing crossword puzzle helps. But that can be boring... maybe shes into electronics? Nintendo DS have tons of brain game.

 

[Il Mostro]

Robert, so sorry to hear about this. Hopefully her general physician will refer her to a good neurologist. There are so many things that can cause and contribute to these types of symptoms. There are numerous tests, (including MRI's and CT scans) that will show how she is functioning from a neurological standpoint.

 

[chess9]

If you dont mind me asking whats her job? $90k a year? thats a lot of responsibility salary. Anyways if she have her own firm or business nevermind my intrusion.

I see that you remember all the good stuff with her, sounds like shes also scared to know more. You should try your best to convince her to know the cause and accept it and work on it. If she gets stubborn just be stubborn yourself and try different things to convice her on getting help done. Prolly a Brain MRI will be request by her doctor.

Anyways have you seen the movie " The Notebook" ?

Supplements can help, but at the same time using a lot of thinking like doing crossword puzzle helps. But that can be boring... maybe shes into electronics? Nintendo DS have tons of brain game.

She's Lead Paralegal at an AV rated law firm. [NB: I just remembered she told me about 3 weeks ago she lost a very large check for the firm. The lawyers just shrugged it off and had her order a replacement. But, she called me that evening asking: "What's happening to me?" I've been telling her that we all lose a bit of our mind with age, and if you play tennis too, you are guaranteed to be crazy by the time you are 60. ]

Haven't seen the movie, but will look for it. Thanks for the heads up!

She doesn't do anything for recreation that is intellectually stimulating. She comes home and crashes and watches tv, and has a few drinks. She did walk a bit for a few weeks, but stopped. She doesn't care for exercise of any sort. She likes to cook, but with nobody there but herself now, she doesn't do much of it. She just broke up with her nuclear engineer boyfriend because she had a Chernobyl style meltdown with him. I was hoping that would work out, but he's not the touchy/feeling kind and is actually a bit rigid.

-Robert

 

[chess9]

Robert, so sorry to hear about this. Hopefully her general physician will refer her to a good neurologist. There are so many things that can cause and contribute to these types of symptoms. There are numerous tests, (including MRI's and CT scans) that will show how she is functioning from a neurological standpoint.

Well, I'll know more about the medical side of this week or next. I'll post an update and let you know what they find and say.

-Robert

 

[albino smurf]

A friend of mine and I were just talking about how it seems like varying your schedule can help with memory as the routine does not blur together. Older people tend to fall into patterns with little or no variation. That seems like it could make it harder to differentiate occurences minor/major over time.

 

[charliefedererer]

You may want to read Achieving and Maintaining Cognitive Vitality with Aging which seems very "readable" and informative at http://www.ilcusa.org/media/pdfs/isoa.pdf Here are some of their conclusions:
BEHAVIORS THAT MAY PROTECT AGAINST COGNITIVE DECLINE
• Keep challenging yourself to learn new things (“Use it or lose it”)
• Stay physically active (“Move it or lose it” may be truer than we realize!)
• Remain socially active
• Participate in leisure activities. Practice daily stress-reduction techniques, such as meditation and/or
yoga. Get a restful night ’s sleep when possible
• Seek out the help you need if you suffer from depression, grief, or loneliness
• Eat well, but not too much; keep calorie intake moderate. Eat antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables
• Take a daily multivitamin/mineral supplement but avoid taking excessive amounts
• Be safe and avoid head trauma—fasten seat belts, use a bike helmet and other safety gear, and avoid
“heading”. Boxing is strongly associated with a risk of brain injury and dementia
• If you smoke, stop!
• If you drink, use alcohol in moderation—less is probably better. Do not take dehydroepiandrosterone
(DHEA), human growth hormone, melatonin, or other over-the-counter anti-aging supplements
without consulting your physician
• Make sure you receive proper treatment if you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or other
cardiovascular conditions
• Make sure to keep diabetes, heart disease, and other medical conditions under control
• Use sensory aids (hearing aids, reading glasses, etc.) to maximize interaction with the environment
• If you are a woman, consider estrogen replacement therapy carefully and discuss it with your doctor

 

[chess9]

That's a dynamite post, Charlie. Many thanks. I'm going to copy and paste that and send it to my daughter and ex. Most of that stuff is true for all of us! I probably have enough estrogen though at my age.

-Robert

 

[ollinger]

charlie
the line in your post that says "if you smoke, stop" could very well be changed to "if you don't smoke, start." 13 out of 17 studies in peer-reviewed journals showed a lower incidence of Alzheimers for smokers than for non-smokers. (Parkinson's rates were also lower). None of this is startling since brain receptors for acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter lost in Alzheimers, are of two types, muscarinic and NICOTINIC, so named for other chemicals that stimulate them. Smoking of course is not generally something I recommend but if you do a search on nicotine and Alzheimers, you'll find it's an area of some intense interest in Alzheimers research. (Addendum: the Parkinsons finding was also not extremely surprising, since small acetylcholine interneurons are connected to dopamine neurons, the type that are lost in Parkinsons disease).

 

[chess9]

charlie
the line in your post that says "if you smoke, stop" could very well be changed to "if you don't smoke, start." 13 out of 17 studies in peer-reviewed journals showed a lower incidence of Alzheimers for smokers than for non-smokers. (Parkinson's rates were also lower). None of this is startling since brain receptors for acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter lost in Alzheimers, are of two types, muscarinic and NICOTINIC, so named for other chemicals that stimulate them. Smoking of course is not generally something I recommend but if you do a search on nicotine and Alzheimers, you'll find it's an area of some intense interest in Alzheimers research. (Addendum: the Parkinsons finding was also not extremely surprising, since small acetylcholine interneurons are connected to dopamine neurons, the type that are lost in Parkinsons disease).

Incredible stuff.....

-Robert

 

[chess9]

I came across this poem by Noel Coward. It seems somewhat on point....

Nothing Is Lost

"Deep in our sub-conscious, we are told
Lie all our memories, lie all the notes
Of all the music we have ever heard
And all the phrases those we loved have spoken,
Sorrows and losses time has since consoled,
Family jokes, out-moded anecdotes
Each sentimental souvenir and token
Everything seen, experienced, each word
Addressed to us in infancy, before
Before we could even know or understand
The implications of our wonderland.
There they all are, the legendary lies
The birthday treats, the sights, the sounds, the tears
Forgotten debris of forgotten years
Waiting to be recalled, waiting to rise
Before our world dissolves before our eyes
Waiting for some small, intimate reminder,
A word, a tune, a known familiar scent
An echo from the past when, innocent
We looked upon the present with delight
And doubted not the future would be kinder
And never knew the loneliness of night."


-Robert

 

[charliefedererer]

charlie
the line in your post that says "if you smoke, stop" could very well be changed to "if you don't smoke, start." 13 out of 17 studies in peer-reviewed journals showed a lower incidence of Alzheimers for smokers than for non-smokers. (Parkinson's rates were also lower). None of this is startling since brain receptors for acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter lost in Alzheimers, are of two types, muscarinic and NICOTINIC, so named for other chemicals that stimulate them. Smoking of course is not generally something I recommend but if you do a search on nicotine and Alzheimers, you'll find it's an area of some intense interest in Alzheimers research. (Addendum: the Parkinsons finding was also not extremely surprising, since small acetylcholine interneurons are connected to dopamine neurons, the type that are lost in Parkinsons disease).

It's unfortunate that most "discoveries" from small studies don't pan out.
Nevertheless, even if nicotine proved effective, cigarettes are way to hazardous for a nicotine delivery system to be considered. Nicotine patches, gum or nasal spray would be superior.

 

[charliefedererer]

I came across this poem by Noel Coward. It seems somewhat on point....

Nothing Is Lost

"Deep in our sub-conscious, we are told
Lie all our memories, lie all the notes
Of all the music we have ever heard
And all the phrases those we loved have spoken,
Sorrows and losses time has since consoled,
Family jokes, out-moded anecdotes
Each sentimental souvenir and token
Everything seen, experienced, each word
Addressed to us in infancy, before
Before we could even know or understand
The implications of our wonderland.
There they all are, the legendary lies
The birthday treats, the sights, the sounds, the tears
Forgotten debris of forgotten years
Waiting to be recalled, waiting to rise
Before our world dissolves before our eyes
Waiting for some small, intimate reminder,
A word, a tune, a known familiar scent
An echo from the past when, innocent
We looked upon the present with delight
And doubted not the future would be kinder
And never knew the loneliness of night."


-Robert

Insightful, but chilling.
And very apropos.

 

[ollinger]

charlie
"small studies"??? Did you read all 17 studies? How "small" were they and was the statistical power adequate?

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

charlie
the line in your post that says "if you smoke, stop" could very well be changed to "if you don't smoke, start." 13 out of 17 studies in peer-reviewed journals showed a lower incidence of Alzheimers for smokers than for non-smokers. (Parkinson's rates were also lower). None of this is startling since brain receptors for acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter lost in Alzheimers, are of two types, muscarinic and NICOTINIC, so named for other chemicals that stimulate them. Smoking of course is not generally something I recommend but if you do a search on nicotine and Alzheimers, you'll find it's an area of some intense interest in Alzheimers research. (Addendum: the Parkinsons finding was also not extremely surprising, since small acetylcholine interneurons are connected to dopamine neurons, the type that are lost in Parkinsons disease).

I'd go with the nicotine (patches, gum, etc) but forget the smoking. It has been known for quite some time that nicotine is cholinergic and appears to enhance concentration, memory and learning. Nicotine is considered a nootropic = smart drug.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotine#Psychoactive_effects

Stay tuned chess9, I've got some other suggestions as well.

 

[Bud]

Well, I'll know more about the medical side of this week or next. I'll post an update and let you know what they find and say.

-Robert

Check out a product by Twinlab called Choline Cocktail or Choline Cocktail II. One has fructose and the other aspartame (for those who prefer one or the other).

It's got choline, DMAE, Ginko, COQ10, guarana, etc. It will wake you up and make you sharper, guaranteed.

If you purchase on-line it's about 50% off the retail price.

 

[ollinger]

Bud
I personally reviewed over twenty controlled studies of choline in Alzheimers for a paper years ago and can tell you that there is no adequate evidence of any benefit. I also was involved in a study with colleagues at Mt. Sinai giving piracetam (a nootropic) and phosphatidyl choline (lecithin) to Alzheimers patients and we saw no meaningful benefit. The choline story has been around since at least the 1980s with respect to Alzheimers and all the prominent people in the field will tell you it's worthless. (One wouldn't EXPECT it to be of value since it is a precursor loading strategy, and the neuron that would use the precursor choline to synthesize acetylcholine dies in Alzheimers disease.)

 

[chess9]

Bud
I personally reviewed over twenty controlled studies of choline in Alzheimers for a paper years ago and can tell you that there is no adequate evidence of any benefit. I also was involved in a study with colleagues at Mt. Sinai giving piracetam (a nootropic) and phosphatidyl choline (lecithin) to Alzheimers patients and we saw no meaningful benefit. The choline story has been around since at least the 1980s with respect to Alzheimers and all the prominent people in the field will tell you it's worthless. (One wouldn't EXPECT it to be of value since it is a precursor loading strategy, and the neuron that would use the precursor choline to synthesize acetylcholine dies in Alzheimers disease.)

Aside from the 'therapeutic' prescription drugs, would you recommend anything, like, say fish oil and ginkgo biloba? I've suggested she try those.

I've found a condo for her about two miles from her work. My daughter is trying to get her to move end of this month. We have visions of her lost on I-275 and ending up in Atlanta. For some reason, she drives fine, but gets lost even better!

She found her iPhone in a bathroom she rarely uses, so that was good news.

-Robert

 

[Bud]

Bud
I personally reviewed over twenty controlled studies of choline in Alzheimers for a paper years ago and can tell you that there is no adequate evidence of any benefit. I also was involved in a study with colleagues at Mt. Sinai giving piracetam (a nootropic) and phosphatidyl choline (lecithin) to Alzheimers patients and we saw no meaningful benefit. The choline story has been around since at least the 1980s with respect to Alzheimers and all the prominent people in the field will tell you it's worthless. (One wouldn't EXPECT it to be of value since it is a precursor loading strategy, and the neuron that would use the precursor choline to synthesize acetylcholine dies in Alzheimers disease.)

Who said anything about Alzheimer's? Of course, you jumped to conclusions, again

Beside that, there are other things in the bottle, if you read the ingredients.

I created the post for the OP, not you. If he looks it over and believes it's something that may help, then the post has served its purpose.

Robert, if you're interested in the Choline Cocktail, read the multiple reviews at www.Vitacost.com

I've been using the stuff for at least 15 years and am still a loyal customer.

 

[LafayetteHitter]

Was the memory issue going on before the new meds you mentioned? My gf recently switched to Pristiq and i've noticed it caused some memory lapse.

 

[FloridaAG]

I am no doctor but it does not sounds good to me. Sounds like possibly a form of Alzheimers, early onset dementia or perhaps Aphasia or another neuroligical problem.

A very close family friend has a severe form of Aphasia and her decline has been rapid and very depressing. She has been instutionalized and now cannot speak.

 

[chess9]

Was the memory issue going on before the new meds you mentioned? My gf recently switched to Pristiq and i've noticed it caused some memory lapse.

Yes, this has been going on for some time. She changed antidepressants because she was still exploding and withdrawing and getting very black. Her old one was not working very well.

Our bodies are traitors....

-Robert

 

[chess9]

Who said anything about Alzheimer's? Of course, you jumped to conclusions, again

Beside that, there are other things in the bottle, if you read the ingredients.

I created the post for the OP, not you. If he looks it over and believes it's something that may help, then the post has served its purpose.

Robert, if you're interested in the Choline Cocktail, read the multiple reviews at www.Vitacost.com

I've been using the stuff for at least 15 years and am still a loyal customer.

Nice web site! Those two supplements would not work for her because she does not handle caffeine well. I looked at two others, but they don't seem to be as appropriate, plus one of them (this one: http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Phosphatidyl-Choline/pd_section-pr#ProductReviews) looks like the pill size would be problematic for her. Anything over about 250 mgs she gags on. If the pills came in a Tequila flavor she could down 'em no problem!

My daughter bought her some fish oil and some ginkgo, but couldn't find the oral suspension multi at Vitamin Shoppe yesterday. My ex says she ordered the coconut oil online.

Thanks for your help Bud. You are very kind.

-Robert

 

[chess9]

I am no doctor but it does not sounds good to me. Sounds like possibly a form of Alzheimers, early onset dementia or perhaps Aphasia or another neuroligical problem.

A very close family friend has a severe form of Aphasia and her decline has been rapid and very depressing. She has been instutionalized and now cannot speak.

She's in no danger of not speaking any time soon, I think.

She had a very bad auto accident about 12 years ago where she was struck on the passenger's side of the car by a car that went through a red light. Her C-3 vertebra was badly cracked. She's had two subsequent operations on her neck. I just remembered the accident and am now wondering if she could have had an undiagnosed brain injury. The case was settled long ago unfortunately.

-Robert

 

[Moz]

Our bodies are traitors....

-Robert

Your last 4 words caught my attention. When I was younger I used to marvel out how amazing the human body was. Now I'm approaching my late 30's I see it's just like any other crappy appliance in the shop. Things get worn out, break for no reason and get less efficient over time. Like a cheap washing machine, some wash cycles never worked in the first place.

In a final, damning irony the brain only realises when it's too late that you should have been using the damn thing properly in the first 30 years.

There isn't even a universally agreed upon manual on how the thing works.

Three cheers for getting old.

Hope things work out for your wife.

 

[LuckyR]

She's been having failing memory issues for some time. She has talked to her doctor about it, but she refuses to have any testing done because she says she doesn't want to know any more. She doesn't know who her father was or what diseases he may have had.

She called me very upset about not remembering our daughter's name when having a drink with the girls last night.

She asked about memory supplements, and all I knew were fish oil and ginkgo biloba. She asked about coconut oil as she'd seen a story about it.

Has anyone here tried memory supplements? Do they work?

My problem is I can't forget. I have some memories I'd like to forget.

-Robert

Hhmmm... you are describing loss of both long term and short term memory. That doesn't sound like the usual suspects (Alzheimers etc). My guess is the solution will not lie with supplements.

 

[chess9]

Hhmmm... you are describing loss of both long term and short term memory. That doesn't sound like the usual suspects (Alzheimers etc). My guess is the solution will not lie with supplements.

Good point. But, she did finally recover our daughter's name. Took awhile.... She really has noticeable deficits with directions and losing things. Like misplacing her cellphone and the check mentioned in another post in this thread. Her car keys have been a ******. A few years ago I put a huge chain with a picture of our daughter on her keys. She's kept track of her keys as a result. Names are a big problem for her. So, most of it sounds like short term memory loss, and a loss of her directional sense.

Well, I will hear this evening or tomorrow when her appointment is scheduled. I'm sure the doctors will figure this one out.

So, you don't think any supplements would be useful? You're in medicine, no?

-Robert

 

[chess9]

Your last 4 words caught my attention. When I was younger I used to marvel out how amazing the human body was. Now I'm approaching my late 30's I see it's just like any other crappy appliance in the shop. Things get worn out, break for no reason and get less efficient over time. Like a cheap washing machine, some wash cycles never worked in the first place.

In a final, damning irony the brain only realises when it's too late that you should have been using the damn thing properly in the first 30 years.

There isn't even a universally agreed upon manual on how the thing works.

Three cheers for getting old.

Hope things work out for your wife.

LOL! Brilliant post, Moz! See, the benefits of running are many! You are sharp as they come.

-Robert

 

[charliefedererer]

Robert,
I know you opened the post by requesting if there were any nutritional supplements that may help.
And that your are bringing her to a doctor to "rule out the usual supects" of neurologic, metabolic and systemic illnesses that may be contributing.
And I hope there is a "eureka" moment when a cause with an easy remedy is found.
But very often, memory loss is a due to a cumulative effect of many of the factors discussed in that review article, and there is no one diagnosis to pin it on.
A not unusual scenario is one in which someone has used alchohol as a stress reliever and sleep aid for years. There is not a problem of "alchoholism" but the effects over time can result in some neuron toxicity. Almost everyone functions best when they can fully concentrate on their activity, but depression and medication side effects can detract from that concentration.
Anxiety about an inability to focus exacerbates the ability to focus.
Even if there is another contributing cause found, working very hard on the additive effects of drinking, depression, anxiety, and minimizing medication side effects potentially can yeild big dividends, even if tackling these elements is very hard.

 

[GuyClinch]

My mom is really worried about Alzheimers too. Truth is alot of is genetic. Even if she exercised and ate better right now it might be too late. They think that LDL levels in your 40's might be tied to it..

 

[onehandbh]

One other thing I just remembered. A friend of mine is on staff at
Harvard and one of her areas of research is dementia/alzheimer's. So far
she's found that exercise, chocolate and one other thing I can't remember
(ironically) has been found to be beneficial. I can get you more details if
you e-mail me (via my TW profile).

 

[chess9]

Robert,
I know you opened the post by requesting if there were any nutritional supplements that may help.
And that your are bringing her to a doctor to "rule out the usual supects" of neurologic, metabolic and systemic illnesses that may be contributing.
And I hope there is a "eureka" moment when a cause with an easy remedy is found.
But very often, memory loss is a due to a cumulative effect of many of the factors discussed in that review article, and there is no one diagnosis to pin it on.
A not unusual scenario is one in which someone has used alchohol as a stress reliever and sleep aid for years. There is not a problem of "alchoholism" but the effects over time can result in some neuron toxicity. Almost everyone functions best when they can fully concentrate on their activity, but depression and medication side effects can detract from that concentration.
Anxiety about an inability to focus exacerbates the ability to focus.
Even if there is another contributing cause found, working very hard on the additive effects of drinking, depression, anxiety, and minimizing medication side effects potentially can yeild big dividends, even if tackling these elements is very hard.

She drank a lot when she was younger. When we first started dating she would call me after work and ask me to meet her in a bar. I would never go, so it was a source of friction between us. I simply don't enjoy standing in a bar full of cigarette smoke with a lot of loud drunks. After our daughter was born, she almost stopped drinking. But, after the divorce, she started drinking quite a bit again, and it's troubling because she drinks and drives. I'm amazed she's never had a DUI. I did read that study on MedPage Today about how excessive drinking damages the brain. Not encouraging.....

-Robert

 

[jrod]

Robert-

Sorry to hear this. It's gut wrenching, particularly when you don't really know what is going on and even more so when you do and their is no clear way you can help.

Anyway, after reading all of the posts it seems that the diagnosis is fait acompli, but I would not jump to any conclusions. The first area I would try and rule out as a cause is her current meds. Sometimes this requires quite a bit of experimentation, but it's critical to determine whether or not they are a contributing factor.

For years, my mother was taking a cocktail of meds to treat various issues. At one point several years ago she was diagnosed with Parkinson's. We sought second and third opinions on this and the same diagnosis came back. However, the one thing that bothered me was that none of the doctors who diagnosed Parkinsons could explain to me the interaction between all of the drugs she was taking and whether or not they could cause her symptoms (uncontrollable shaking in her right hand).

Finally, we worked with a doctor who simplified her drug cocktail, experimented with substitutes, etc., and they were able to identify the drug that was causing the shaking. No Parkinsons was the conclusion.

Anyway, my general rule of thumb is doctors are often just as clueless as we are when it comes to diagnosing things. I realize it's extremely difficult to do, but it is critical to get it right even if it does take time.

I sure hope things work out for her.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Hhmmm... you are describing loss of both long term and short term memory. That doesn't sound like the usual suspects (Alzheimers etc). My guess is the solution will not lie with supplements.

Is this really true? My own (personal) experience suggest otherwise. I'll provide details in my next posting.