June 02, 2011 12:00 AM

I was inspired to write this column by a recent patient who swore she was “losing her mind.” She attributed it to either the onset of menopause or the summer homecoming of her college freshman daughter.

Actually, I’ve heard many women claim that their concentration and memory is not the same as it used to be. These are common complaints of women in menopausal transition; changes during menopause can be frightening and may lead some women to think they have early symptoms of dementia. This, fortunately, is usually not the case.

When a woman becomes more forgetful, she may wonder if decreasing estrogen is to blame. there is, however, little evidence that lower estrogen levels affect the brain. These changes are usually due to normal aging or mood. They usually subside after menopause.

However, younger women who have had “surgical menopause” (having had both ovaries removed) may experience immediate and severe menopausal symptoms. Studies have shown that this process can have a negative effect on memory. Mental skills like remembering words can be difficult immediately after surgical menopause.

Since the link between circulating hormone levels and cognitive impairment is weak, hormone therapy for cognitive symptoms or prevention of dementia is not recommended.

As we age, our mental abilities can slow. Also, stress at mid-life can affect sleep. Work demands, teenage children, the “empty nest” syndrome, aging parents, relationships, health concerns and financial woes take their toll.

Lack of sleep adversely influences the ability to concentrate and resultant fatigue during the day can cause you to be less alert and lead to problems at work and daily life.

The good news is that as you age, you have the ability to continue to gain knowledge, skills and expertise.

There are many ways to keep our minds strong. Physical and mental activity and a balanced social life all have positive effects on the mind. They may ward off the effects of aging and disease that can contribute to dementia.

Proper nutrition is also key. Foods that are healthy for your heart are usually also healthy for your brain.

Perhaps the best strategy for cognitive maintenance hews closely to common wisdom: Eat right, exercise (physically and mentally), minimize stress and strive for balance in your life.

• womenshealth.gov/aging/mental-health/aging-brain.cfm
• nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/memory/html.
• nia.nih.gov/healthinformation/publications/forgetfulness.htm
• menopause.com

Dr. Christian S. Pope specializes in obstetrics and gynecology. he has offices in New Bedford and Mattapoisett and practices at St. Luke’s Hospital, the New Bedford site of Southcoast Hospitals Group. he can be reached at 508-999-6245.

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Write-up by Bhupinder Kaur Khera

Various signs and symptoms of dementia in patients consist of memory loss, impaired abstraction and planning, language and comprehension disturbances, poor judgement, impaired orientation capability, decreased attention and increased restlessness, lack of interest, behavioural changes and psychosis, sleep disturbances, hallucinations and so on. The loss of cognitive abilities that occurs with dementia leads to impairments in memory, reasoning, planning, and behavior. Care for a person with dementia can be tough and complex.

Dementia typically is caused by degeneration in the cerebral cortex, the component of the brain responsible for thoughts, memories, actions and personality. Death of brain cells in this region leads to the cognitive impairment that characterizes dementia. Alzheimer’s illness or AD is the most common cause, followed by vascular or multi-infarct dementia. Vascular dementia occurs from decrease in blood flow to the brain, most commonly due to a series of small strokes (multi-infarct dementia). Other cerebrovascular causes include vasculitis from syphilis, Lyme illness, systemic lupus erythematosus, subdural hematoma, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Since of the normally sudden nature of its cause, the symptoms of vascular dementia tend to begin more abruptly than those of Alzheimer’s dementia. Symptoms might progress stepwise with the occurrence of new strokes. Unlike AD, the incidence of vascular dementia is lower following age 75. Dementia can also occur due to a lot of other conditions such as Parkinson’s illness, brain tumor, head trauma, hypercalcemia, vitamin deficiency, aids and so on. Delirium may occur with dementia. Dementia progresses slowly whereas delirium develops rapidly and typically fluctuates in intensity.

As dementia progresses slowly, diagnosing it in its early stages can be tough. thus early diagnosis is essential to slow the effects of dementia. a family history of either AD or cerebrovascular illness could supply clues to the trigger of symptoms. Basic tests of mental function, which includes word recall, object naming, and number-symbol matching, are utilized to track adjustments in the person’s cognitive ability. a variety of medical tests may possibly be essential to determine dementia. Cerebrovascular illness, hydrocephalus, and tumors may be diagnosed with x rays, CT or MRI scans, and vascular imaging studies. Blood tests might reveal nutritional deficiencies or hormone imbalances.

Sign and Symptoms of dementia could be treated with a combination of psychotherapy, environmental modifications, and medication. two drugs, tacrine and donepezil are commonly prescribed for AD. These drugs inhibit the breakdown of acetylcholine in the brain, prolonging its capacity to conduct chemical messages between brain cells. They supply temporary improvement in cognitive functions for some patients with mild to moderate AD and help delay disease progression.

about the Author

Bhupinder Kaur Khera is an on-line writer. She has studied on how to attain a healthier, balanced way of life and have access to the essential medicines they need. for free expert advice on safe, powerful and assured quality medicine for stomach bloating or antiemetic meds visit rx2gostore.com/Domperidone.php

A brief user friendly description of what happens when the Parietal Lobes are affected in dementia. Your comments and suggestions would be appreciated! This is an excerpt from the DementiaEd DVD ‘You’re the Expert: The Relationship Between Brain and Behaviour’ which is accessible from the Dementia Services Development Centre, University of Stirling at their dementia resource shop dementiashop.co.uk (dementiashop.co.uk also accessible is the DementiaEd DVD ‘Challenging Behaviour in Dementia’ You are totally free to copy and distribute these videos for non-profitable purposes. all DVDs profits support our carer education activities.Video Rating: five / five

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well beginning about 10 yrs ago i started having trouble with my eye sight blurred vision floaters and things like that and over the years it seems that is getting better but still have trouble sometimes now i have had weakness in my arms and legs . i am in pain all the time in my back legs feet arms neck problems , depression dizziness sometimes i dont know what to do i really dont im thinking very serouisly about asking my doctor to test me for MS . anybody out there have it and could tell me what their symptoms was ?

Multiple Sclerosis (abbreviated MS, also known as disseminated sclerosis or encephalomyelitis disseminata) is a chronic, inflammatory, demyelinating disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS). MS can cause a variety of symptoms, including changes in sensation, visual problems, muscle weakness, depression, difficulties with coordination and speech, severe fatigue, cognitive impairment, problems with balance, overheating, and pain. MS will cause impaired mobility and disability in more severe cases.

hope i helped, please rate my answer:)

the only thing i know off hand about it is that it becomes painful to walk and there is pain in the back and legs, etc….
Hope things turn out well for you

I have a friend with advanced MS. She has had none of your symptoms. It actually sounds like you may have ME which is not very nice but temporary. MS is a condition which causes gradual paralysis in the body. My friend's symptoms were all to do with numbness initially, especially in her mouth and tongue.

I have a different autoimmune disease, but it mimics MS. one difference is there are no sure tests for MS, but blood tests can tell if you have Antiphospholipid Syndrome I am including 2 links for you about this seldom tested for disease. It is considered rare, but I know for a fact that it is very common. best wishes.

You dont recover, its a progressive disease.

take a look here
mult-sclerosis.org/mssymptoms…

My mum as ms her was very slow devolopping and took a long time to get a diagnosis,, her first signs of it were pins and needles and bladder problems mum has suffered with it now for four yrs she has Good days n bad days she suffers with muscle cramps and muscle spasms,,, if you think you r showing symptoms go c your doc he will refer you to a neurologist,,, in the meantime there are lots of good web sites that tell you all about ms try the ms society,,,, and unfortunately there is no cure,, good luck xx

MS can cause a variety of symptoms, including changes in sensation, visual problems, muscle weakness, depression, difficulties with coordination and speech, severe fatigue, cognitive impairment, problems with balance, overheating, and pain. MS will cause impaired mobility and disability in more severe cases. Relapses, also called exacerbations, can cause new symptoms to appear and old ones to resurface or worsen. the relapses are followed by periods of remission, during which time the person fully or partially recovers from the deficits acquired during the relapse.

i have ms i saw diagnosed last august i went into rention and i had leg weakness they found out i had it by lumper puncture i am on avonex which is a beta inferon i have it once a week i also go in a oxgyen chamber once a week i had relapse remitting ms am very postive and do all the things i did before but when i need toi rest i do as i get tired alot hope thuis helps and there is a ms website there are lots of symptoms

This disease is thought to be the result of an immunologic mechanism,from a unidentified latent virus which when activated,triggers a secondary immune response,causing a demyelonization in the brain and spinal cord.Common early symptoms include visual and oculomotor abnormalities,numbness,weakness,and muscle spasticity. Every patient is affected in a different manner, severity,and progression .there is no cure for MS.It's characterized by multiple neurological deficits along with remissions,and progression of areas affected. there is much info at the MS web page. Take care. SW RNP

I have a disease that mimics MS. Symptoms can be the same. there is no cure for either as both are autoimmune diseases. the difference is there are no tests that can 100% prove MS, but Antiphospholipid Syndrome can be diagnosed with blood tests. here is a good link

hughes-syndrome.org/symptoms.…

Lifelong condition, no cure. mssociety.org.uk

It can affect prople differently, personally I have permanent nerve damage, right leg, paralysis right foot nystagmus (less common than optic neutitis – eye condition) which affects my balance more than the dead leg and foot!

There is no saying how it will affect each individual, I've been diagnosed 8 years and it's the last two that have caused the 'permanent' damage. although during relapses I've had many other symptoms which have cleared up – more or less.

If you've been diagnosed, push for all the help you can get, the earlier the better. some people have much milder symptoms, you can live a relatively normal life with MS, just listen to your own body, and make sure the doc knows what's going on – don't ever think you're being a nuisance!

Good luck