One of the greatest concerns I have in terms of adjusting to getting older is how the process will impact my cognitive functioning in terms of long term (LTM), short-term (STM)/working memory (WM).
My dad succumbed to the cognitive ravages of Alzheimer’s disease; therefore, I considered whether I might be genetically pre-disposed to the disease. If not, what was my fate in terms of normal brain aging and cognition? What could I do to improve cognitive functioning in terms of memory?
Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging. Its mission is to slowly and mercilessly erode cognitive functions including memory. My dad had some good moments during his initial battle with the disease. My family and I would observe him use implicit memory to confidently and safely walk to the kitchen to get a beverage then drink it without issue; therefore, his right parietal lobe, at least at this time, was functioning as well as his cerebellum. In addition, in terms of working memory, his “visuospatial sketchpad held visual and spatial information.” (Goldstein, Bruce E. 2011) The observation was painful in light of the circumstances, yet had an element of fleeting comfort.
Eventually, he was unable to feed himself as a result of his left parietal lobe degeneration. (Alzheimer’s Society 2014) My dad was an engineer, who excelled at and enjoyed process optimization, which defines the work of an engineer. Yet the disease, ultimately, would not allow him to invoke episodic memories that pertained to his career, family and friends. Episodic memories are adversely impacted by the deterioration of parts of the medial temporal lobe: the hippocampus, which is responsible for the formation of new LTM, the thalmus, which is responsible for sensory perception, and the amygdala, which processes emotions associated with memory). (UCSF Aging and Memory Center 2014)
But what of his retrieval of a LTM regarding his mother’s preparation of breakfast many, many years ago (episodic memory), then his “awareness of the stored information that was (apparently) moved back to STM?” (Goldstein, Bruce E. 2011) Is STM not the first cognitive function to start declining as a result of the disease? The answer is that the initial resiliency of LTM is the result of an unconscious rehearsal of the best remembered memories so recall is strengthened.” (Morris, John C. 2016) Apparently recall of these long ago events relies on the hippocampus less. (Alzheimer’s Society 2014)
My dad’s right temporal lobe deteriorated; therefore, in terms of visual coding for LTM, my dad could not recognize family members based on their face or appearance. (Alzheimer’s Society 2014) (Goldstein, Bruce E. 2011) That reality was almost unbearable.
During the normal course of research, I learned that the probability of succumbing to early onset familial Alzheimer’s disease was low. In addition, “fewer than one in five adults age 65 or older have the disease, which rises exponentially with age.” (American Psychological Association 2016)
For those of you in your early 20’s, you will be happy to know that your brain’s volume is at its peak; however, it’s a downward spiral from there. The cortex shrinks, neurons atrophy, dendritic connections are reduced, and blood flow declines. Episodic, source, and flashbulb memories decline the most, while semantic and procedural memory decline the least. Planning and organizing activities take more effort. (American Psychological Association 2011)
I currently focus on a lifestyle that may improve my cognitive functioning in terms of memory by (1) eliminating distractions as the process of information encoding and retrieval can be adversely impacted, (2) exercising: I take intermediate level ballet classes, (3) socializing, (4) staying positive about the aging process as memory might improve as a result, 5) challenging myself intellectually (I am enrolled in the PSU psychology degree program), (6) reducing stress: I’m working on that, and (7) practicing self-efficacy. (American Psychological Society)
I have no reason to believe that my brain is not going through a normal, age-related, degenerative process. I do my due diligence in terms of researching credible information on the topic, then discussing the information with my doctor. I don’t want the fear of decreasing cognitive abilities such as memory to keep me from understanding and managing the normal brain aging process in spite of the “downward spiral.”
Works Cited
Goldstein, Bruce E. “Glossary.” Cognitive Psychology Connecting Mind, Research, and Everyday Experience. 3rd Edition. Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Copyright 2011, 2008. pg. 132.
Web Publications
Image credit: Jannis Productions. Rebekah Fredenburg, computer animation; Stacy Jannis, illustration/art direction.“Under the Microscope.” Braintour. Alzheimer’s Association. Copyright © 2011 Alzheimer’s Association®. web 12 July 2016
http://www.alz.org/braintour/tour_credits.asp
“Dementia and the Brain.” Alzheimer’s Society. Last reviewed: September 2014. All content Ó 2106 Alzheimer’s Society. web 11 July 2016. n.pg.
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=114
“Episodic Memory.” Brain 101: Topics in Neuroscience. University of California San Francisco Memory and Aging Center. © 2016 The Regents of the University of California. Page Content Reviewed: December 8, 2014. web 11 July 2016. n.pg.
http://memory.ucsf.edu/brain/memory/episodic
Morris, John C,. M.D.“Why do Alzheimer’s Patients Remember Certain Things and Forget Others?” Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis. Copyright 2007-2016 Caring. Web 11 July 2016. n. pg.
https://www.caring.com/questions/alzheimers-patients-remember-past
https://wuphysicians.wustl.edu/for-patients/find-a-physician/john-carl-morris
Memory Changes in Older Adults. American Psychological Association. Ó2016 American Psychological Association. web 11 June 2016. N. pg.
http://www.apa.org/research/action/memory-changes.aspx
Vierck, Elizabeth.“Memory and Aging.” APA Office on Aging and Committee on Aging. Ó2016 American Psychological Association. web 11 June 2016. N. pg.
http://www.apa.org/pi/aging/memory-and-aging.pdf
I, too, have witnessed the deteriorating effects of Alzheimer’s Disease. My step grandfather, although lacking a genetic connection to me, underwent the disease. Initially, he began to experience moderate dementia, forgetting simple things such as general facts about life. etc. and then he began to forget more drastic things like our names.
Also, his motor functions were always a bit off. He had some damage to his cerebellum from heavy drinking in his younger days. He had struggled with chronic depression and indulged in alcoholism, exhibiting many of its key symptoms such as impulsive anger. Back in those days, therapy was rare and very few people sought it because of the way society was at the time. Medications were even more rare and typically when one had a problem, said one just dealt with it on their own. Even today in a lot of parts of America that are more traditional, mental health is very poorly understood and I know from personal experience regarding my own anxiety issues and OCD, that oftentimes people in said areas refuse to acknowledge if a loved one is suffering from a mental illness. As my parents always yelled at me “YOU CHOOSE TO BE THAT WAY!” and so, my step grandfather, rather than seeking professional help, engaged in heavy drinking. Over time, his symptoms became physical and in his old age, his hands trembled frequently, shaking almost unceasingly. These tremors were extremely noticeable.
Some link alcoholism to deterioration of the brain cells. Such seems to be evident in known alcoholics like Ace Frehley or Ozzy Osbourne, whom can barely remember their own names half the time. Is there a correlation between alcoholism and Alzheimers? Many researchers believe so. Dementia is a precursor to Alzeimrer’s and once the disease takes full assault upon the brain, all sanity becomes lost and all functions shut down. I witnessed this with my own step grandfather. He did experience degeneration of both his long term semantic and episodic memory and upon his death was essentially clueless as to who everyone was. It was tragic.
“Alzheimer’s and Alcohol: The Real Connection” ABC NEWS. July 2012. Web.
Hi Emily,
Thank you for taking the time to comment on my blog post “The Aging Brain,” and for stating that it was well written. I appreciate your written communication skills as well. Your comments boosted my resolve to make continuous improvements in terms of communicating effectively.
In addition, I appreciated your kind words about my dad and the relevant, yet painful information you shared about your close friend’s mother.
I cannot imagine what it would be like to manage issues that pertain not only to early onset Alzheimer’s disease but to MS as well. I wish your friend, her mother, and family members the best. You are an integral part of the support group.
Hi Helene,
I’m sorry to hear about the progression of your dad’s Alzheimer’s, but also want to compliment you on how well-written this post is – it was very interesting to read about your connections between the class material we have covered and your family’s experience with the disease. I have a close friend whose mother is suffering from a similar situation, as she has been diagnosed with early on-set Alzheimer’s in conjunction with Multiple Sclerosis. Her condition is not yet as severe as you have described your dad’s to be, but as both diseases progress she will likely experience degeneration of her long term semantic and episodic memory due to the Alzheimer’s (Alzheimer’s Society) as well as experiencing difficulty controlling motor cognition and completing tasks that require complex cognition as the MS begins to deteriorate the myelin sheaths that aid her nervous system in communicating information within her brain and between her brain and body (National MS Society). We remain hopeful that she will stay “normal” for as long as possible, but it is devastating to watch such diseases progress and there is no question that more research for treatment needs to be done.
“Dementia and the Brain.” Alzheimer’s Society. Last reviewed: September 2014. All content: Alzheimer’s Society. Web 12 July 2016.
“What is MS?” The National MS Society. Last reviewed: October 2015. All content: The National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Web 12 July 2016.