Baylie McDougal Baum ZOOL-2111-001 30 September 2013 Scientific Advancements Discovered in Adults Memory

A common development in older adults is a decline or loss of memory. Symptoms of such memory loss could be asking for information repeatedly, forgetting important dates, or difficultly in completing familiar tasks. There are typically no obvious physical changes in adults who suffer from memory loss, instead it is generally a mental alteration or is noticed in their behavior. Currently there is no known cure for patients diagnosed with Alzheimers or any form of memory loss, only early prevention. Being able to identify early stages of memory loss and having the ability to prevent these diseases, such as Alzheimers, from developing would be a huge medical advancement. Having a cure would also save multiple lives, increase life expectancy, and decrease the financial burden due to caregivers and medical treatments (Naqvi 2013). There are many options outside of taking prescribed medicine such as leading a healthy lifestyle and daily tasks one can do to prevent memory loss. While there may be no pronounced scientific cure for memory loss, there are a variety of effective options, such as eating healthy and exercising the brain and the body, that could prevent such symptoms. Memory loss is most commonly found in adults and increases with age. Ten percent of people over the age of sixty-five have Alzheimers disease, and a persons odds increase up to fifty percent once they have reached eighty years old (Khalsa 2004). The key to having a healthy

brain and memory is early prevention. The earlier the patient realizes they have possible memory loss, the more that can be done by doctors to slow it down, giving the patient the best possible outcome. Luckily more and more people realize the significance of leading a healthy lifestyle, such as getting the proper amount of sleep and exercising regularly, and understanding how it affects their brain and memory. Since people are living longer and longer, this is a key factor in living a long and healthy life. Putting objects in odd places, not remembering common words, and failing to recall how to do simple tasks are definite warning signs of memory loss that should not be ignored. Vitamins and home remedies often promote that they aide in the prevention of memory loss, yet there is no guarantee that these can improve ones memory. Memory loss is not necessarily attached to a persons genetics, more so it can reflect a persons lifestyle. Exercise has a positive influence on not only a persons heart and body, but also their brain. Staying active can reduce a persons risk for high blood pressure or stroke, which are both illnesses that can lead to memory loss. Eating the right kind of food is a simple way to having a healthy lifestyle. Food is critical to our brain, and studies show that people who eat a healthy diet are less likely to experience symptoms of memory loss as they age (Khalsa 2004). Another important factor when considering memory loss is a persons stress levels. Those who have higher stress levels are more likely to have their memory affected in a negative way, so anything that is a stress reliever is beneficial to ones brain and memory. Chronic stress can even kill brain cells in your brains memory center (Khalsa 2004). The ultimate goal is to have a fit memory which can be achieved by learning a new hobby or reading regularly.

Adults are at a much higher risk for memory loss than children because they already have so many memories it is almost as if they have to forget an old memory just to make room for a new one (Chant 2013). As an adult, even those who are retired or who no longer attend school, it is important to learn new things. The process of learning new things and being exposed to new experiences helps the brain create new connections and will help to improve its function (Khalsa 2004). Anything that involves memorization will help decrease memory loss, such as memorizing a grocery list. Doing activities such as a crossword puzzle, or any type of puzzle, will help too and aide in a healthy mind because it encourages learning which is beneficial to a persons mental fitness. While it has been stated that there is no known cure for certain memory loss diseases, such as Alzheimers, there has been some scientific success in the prevention of such memory loss. According to research done by L.C. Reese and colleagues at the microscopic level, the losses of synapses in the brain are linked to early memory loss (Ly and Song 2011). Multiple studies have shown that memory loss is definitely linked to synaptic failure. Unfortunately the solution to this problem has yet to be determined. An early diagnosis consists of preventing synaptic losses in the brain before any symptoms of memory loss occur. Another proposed method of preventing memory loss is by taking daily statin medications. Scientists once thought that statin medications could prevent memory loss symptoms that lead to memory diseases such as dementia throughout the later stages of life. Upon further research, studies have shown that these types of medications do not affect shortterm memory at all. A recent study has shown that only if the medication is taken longer than

one year, then it may be able to reduce memory loss. However, statin medications do have a possibility of creating negative side effects especially when mixed with other medications and their hindrance of memory loss is not guaranteed. I think that preventive treatments for memory loss do help older adults to lower their risk. Having a healthy brain and a healthy lifestyle are important factors especially as someone increases in age. Puzzles such as a crossword, new experiences, or any type of learning involvement are important for adults because they help to keep your mind in shape and not lose any more of its synaptic connections. What is most crucial in this whole process is early diagnosis, which leads to prevention. While there may not be any medicine that has been scientifically proven to cure Alzheimers, there have been multiple studies t hat discuss the prevention of this disease. There are cases where the disease is related to the persons genes, in which case any type of prevention may not work. Any type of activity to prevent such memory loss is a crucial step to saving lives.

Khalsa, D. 2004. Can memory loss be prevented? YES, it can! Alzheimer's Disease 26 6:20-22.

Chant, I. 2013. Forgetting is harder for older brains. Scientific American Minds 24 2:8.

Ly, P.T. and Song, W. 2011. Loss of activated CaMKII at the synapse underlies Azheimers disease memory loss. Journal of Neurochemistry 119 4: 673-675.

Naqvi, R. M. 2013. Opinion: On living longer. Online: http://www.thescientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/36150/title/Opinion--On-Living-Longer/. Accessed September 2013.