Back when we were caring for our Mama, I remember wondering if her condition might be genetic. At that point, we didn’t even know for sure if she had Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia. Mama did have a brain scan at the time, but that was almost 20 years ago, and there were not as many diagnostic resources back then. More research has been conducted, along with advances in diagnosing.
What dementia is not
If you are caring for a loved one with dementia, especially one of your parents, it is likely that at some point, you have wondered if you may inherit it as well. This is especially true if you happen to lose your keys, forget someone’s name, or miss a turn. My sister and I have a saying that helps alleviate those types of worries. It is: “It’s not when you forget where the keys are… it’s when you forget what the keys do!” So, if you misplace something, these things happen – but if you forget what that item is for, it’s a new conversation.
I was chatting with someone recently who told me she frequently shops at a particular grocery store. She confided that there have been times when she wasn’t planning to shop at that store and yet still turned into the parking lot. This is motor muscle memory – not dementia.
Are you genetically destined to have dementia?
Another thing about dementia is that there are so many different types and causes of dementia it would be hard to say if the type your loved one has can have a genetic factor. Alzheimer’s is the most common, accounting for up to 80% of the cases. But even if you have the APOE e4 gene – which doubles or triples the risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease, it is not a given. There are many ways of reducing the risk. Lifestyle plays an important role as well. A quote often attributed to American biochemist T. Colin Campbell, says, “Genetics loads the gun, but lifestyle pulls the trigger“.
Neurobics to the rescue
So, what can we do? Are there activities we can do that will help? One of the lifestyle activities that has been used to make a difference in both subjective and objective memory is brain training and Neurobic exercises. Neurobics is the science of brain exercise.
An article published by Doc2Us.com, says, “Neurobics is the science of mental exercises that helps the brain to stay fit. Lawrence Katz, Ph.D. and Manning Rubin, who coined the term “neurobics” stated that when you use all of your senses in new and unexpected ways, you will not only activate your brain but also stimulate the growth of new nerve pathways.”
Brain Training, neurobic routine
Wayne and I take a Senior Ballet class a couple of times a week. In a recent class, our ballet teacher, Amber, taught us a new routine. It included holding out our arms, then bringing our hands to our shoulders, then to our ears, and finally up towards the ceiling. We got the hang of those movements but then came the tricky part: we began with our right hand, then added our left hand one step later, so that our arms were not doing the same thing. Another tricky part was that we did this while simultaneously stepping to the side with each arm movement. It took some doing, and most of us followed Amber’s oft-repeated advice: “Fake it till you make it.” I’m sure it qualifies as a Neurobic exercise.
I came across a study in the NIH, National Library of Medicine that investigated the effect of neurobic exercise. They found that neurobic exercise intervention could improve subjective and objective memory.
To get you started, the Magnetic Memory Method provides a list of 14 Neurobic Exercises For Brain Exercise And Better Memory. You will have to scroll down a bit to locate them, but I believe it will be worth the effort to find some that work for you. I get it, life is busy, who has time to add one more thing to your day? The article also provide tips to help you weave them into your lifestyle.
Neurobics help your brain prior to surgery
Neurobics can provide an additional advantage. The JAMA Network published a study titled, The Neurobics Randomized Clinical Trial. It was conducted among older adults undergoing major noncardiac surgery. They found that doing brain exercises prior to the operation may have a positive effect on cognitive abilities afterward.
In a previous post, “Upside Down and Backward”, I wrote: “In a nutshell, Neurobic exercises are: ‘Doing the ordinary things in new, surprising and unexpected ways. Break routines. For example, turn your calendar upside down. Find a safe place to walk backward’.”
Find ways to involve your five physical senses to help shake up your everyday routines. Give brain training a try – what do you have to lose?
Has your world been touched by dementia?
My book, “Finishing Well: Finding the Joy in Dementia“, is a collection of stories and tips about doing life with my Mama. May it encourage and inspire you to find joy on your own, unique journey.