Functional changes begin around age 35
By Sarah Binder
CEDAR RAPIDS—Aging is a fact of life, and that goes for the brain as much as anything else.
“We know that people shrink over time and their hair changes color and we don’t consider that a disturbing thing,” said Stephen Peters, a neuropsychologist at St. Luke’s Hospital. “We can’t run as fast as when we were 20, we can’t think as fast either.”
Mr. Peters will speak at a community program on the aging brain, at a time when demographic shifts mean more Iowans are caring for an aging parent or worrying about their own future health.
“The big-A word, Alzheimer’s, really has replaced cancer as a big scare for a lot of people,” he said.
As people age, their brains literally shrink. This happens because less blood is pumped into the small capillaries deep in the brain. The process begins as early as age 35, Mr. Peters said.
The result is increased forgetfulness, such as a “tip of the tongue” phenomenon where the right word or name just doesn’t come to mind.
To slow down this change, people need to get their blood pumping again.
“We don’t have a medication that exists that’s as good as exercise,” Mr. Peters said.
People who perform cardiovascular exercises on a regular basis are three times less likely to develop a dementia of any kind.
Diet plays a role as well; eating foods rich in Omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants and keeping cholesterol and blood pressure down impact brain health, he said.
Games, puzzles and books, on the other hand, have not been shown to improve brain function in any independent study, Mr. Peters said. Completing a puzzle over and over will only make a person better at that puzzle — the knowledge and memory benefits don’t extend to other areas.
In other words, if you want to stay sharp for longer, start moving now.
“If you’re anti-exercise, don’t call it exercise. Say you’re doing your brain preservation process,” he said.
What’s normal, what’s not
So, if all brains age over time, when is forgetting your keys a sign of something worse?
An early sign of Alzheimer’s is a person withdrawing from activities. For example, if a person always looked forward to fishing trips in retirement, but never gets around to actually going, it could be a sign.
Another key to watch for is whether the person’s memory becomes progressively worse during a short period of time, such as six to eight months.
Vocabularies in people with dementias can change and become more generalized. Pet phrases like “It’s a cold one out there” can start to take the place of detailed, nuanced conversation.
And while details of events from 50 years ago may remain sharp, the person might not be able to recall a conversation from the previous day.
The best thing a person can do if these signs sound familiar, Mr. Peters said, is bring it up with their primary care physician. As populations age, family doctors are becoming more knowledgeable about brain health by necessity, and they can refer to specialists if needed.
Tests for dementias have high levels of accuracy. If it turns out to be nothing, the patient gains peace of mind, while if it is a problem, early detection is key to slowing the decline of brain function.
“The worst you can do is just try and compensate, ignore it, and say, ‘well, they’re getting older,’” Mr. Peters said. “We think we’re helping, but oftentimes we’re making it worse.”
Memory issues
Routine is key for people with declining cognitive abilities.
Having a set routine that can basically be completed “on autopilot” takes less mental energy that can be used on other things.
Because of this, patients often decline after being moved into a nursing home or assisted care facility. Their families might see this as their loved one losing hope or facing a serious issue, but often it’s just the person adapting to the new environment, Mr. Peters said.
However, when weighing the decision of whether to move a loved one into a facility, Mr. Peters advised taking action sooner rather than later, so the person has a better chance of establishing a new routine.
Another trend is for elderly patients to be prescribed antidepressants, even if they have no prior history of depression.
The greatest brain myth is people only use part of it, he said.
“We use 100 percent and sometimes that’s still not enough to keep up with all the technology and all the demands on our time,” he said.
So, as a person ages and their brain shrinks, they might be more comfortable simply sitting on a couch and looking out a window, rather than the more complex activities they used to enjoy.
“But families hate to see that,” Mr. Peters said. “They feel the need to do something.”
Mr. Peters moved to Iowa about a year ago; previously he was the chief of Associated Neurologists, a large practice in Connecticut.
“I sought out Iowa because I found a hospital where their mission statement was, basically, give the care you’d want your loved ones to receive,” he said. “Iowa is a hidden secret.”
The Aging Brain
Feb. 6, 6:30 p.m.
St. Luke’s Hospital
Third floor, Nassif Heart Center 1026 A Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids
Register by calling (319) 369-7395 or at www.stlukescr.org/livewell
