Talk About Aging #6 Brain Problems in Aging

There are several conditions that can appear as we age. These are referred to as “organic” because they involve brain malfunction or damage. These represent the preponderance of mental health issues that unfold later in life, along with depression, and the problems associated with it. In many cases the quick appearance of a problem enables doctors to diagnose and begin treatment immediately. Stroke, for instance, stops blood from reaching the brain and is usually recognized very fast. Many stroke victims respond to treatment and are eventually returned to relatively normal mental and physical condition. Even a heart attack can limit blood flow to the brain in some people, causing them to act “strange” even though they are not always exhibiting other symptoms.

Malnutrition can result in similar symptoms related to brain disorders. Although it takes a longer period to appear, it can result in memory loss, depression, confusion, and other signs of mental deterioration. Many times malnutrition is overlooked and the symptoms are attributed to senility.

Drug interactions, wrong prescriptions, and unintentional over usage by the elderly can also mimic symptoms of brain damage. Brain tumors, infections, thyroid problems, and liver disease can have similar effects on the mental health of seniors. This is why it is so important for the elderly to have conscientious family, caregivers, and companions to provide needed information and question physician decisions on care.

Many of the problems I have mentioned so far are treatable and a person’s life can be restored to a fairly normal state, but another group known as “chronic brain disorders” is on the increase, and of major concern.

Dementia is a chronic brain disorder that has several forms but the two forms that affect the elderly the most are vascular dementia and senile dementia (aka: Alzheimer’s type). Vascular dementia is dementia that has been caused by hardening of the arteries, restricting blood flow to parts of the brain. This causes mini strokes and certain areas of brain tissue to die from lack of blood, resulting in an uneven loss of mental functioning.

My mother was stricken with vascular dementia and had series of small strokes as well as a heart stoppage that affected her in different ways. For instance, she can talk and ask, and answer, very simple questions about the present. Such as “do you want some milk?” and she will say either yes or no. She will also express when she has to use the restroom, and when she is going to bed. What has been destroyed is her memory and the ability to think in a future tense. She will say, “I just have no memory at all anymore” as she looks at pictures of people ranging from 80 years ago to the present that she can no longer identify. She doesn’t think in terms of the past or the future, only the present and that is very limited. About fifteen years ago she started to lose her memory. Slowly year by year her past drifted away.

Senile dementia (aka: Alzheimer ’s disease type) is the other form of dementia that affects the elderly. This disease is progressive and slowly steals the minds of its victims. One difference between vascular and senile dementia is, with vascular dementia people have uneven brain loss. They may still retain speech and perhaps understand that they can’t remember. Alzheimer’s victims are not even aware that their memory is gone. Many times they will just begin to live in a world from their mind that has past long ago and exclude the present completely. There are several theories about Alzheimer’s but at present none have produced a cure or even been highly successful.

Terry Truhlar has a MS in Gerontology from the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

Email ttruhlar@yahoo.com