Today's Women of Age

After I entered my 60s I started having small memory lapses–most notably involving my spelling! Words I have used all of my life and I couldn’t remember how to spell them correctly. In the same vein I’ve noticed when I’m writing I occasionally mix up words, like typing “accept” when I mean “except.” I catch the mistakes when I’m proofreading, but it’s humbling. What’s happening with my brain?? I’ve been an avid reader and writer since my elementary school days. I love playing with words. Will I lose my ability to write?

So are these brain glitches a normal part of aging or something more? At what point do I need to be concerned?

According to medical research all of us can expect to have some degree of memory loss as we age and it’s normal to experience a decline in spelling ability, word retrieval and have more “it’s right on the tip of my tongue” moments. Our brains shrink with age and we have a loss of neural connections slowing our cognitive processing. This brain shrinkage actually starts in our 30s but accelerates when we hit our 60s. For most of us these small lapses will not hinder our life significantly and are not necessarily precursors to dementia or Alzheimers. Phew!

When I worked for a stroke association I learned about neuroplasticity–the brain’s ability to adapt, reorganize and compensate. I saw it first hand in a variety of stroke survivors who had varying degrees of brain loss. Many of the folks were able to regain abilities like speech, reading, walking and driving. It took effort (huge effort) on their part, but over time it happened. The brain compensated and adapted.

What this means for us is that while we can’t prevent brain shrinkage, we can be proactive in helping our brain create new neural connections.

Ways to preserve and improve brain function

• Stay physically active. Exercise is crucial.
• Keep socially engaged. Shut-ins suffer a far greater decline in brain loss.
• Keep challenging your mind by reading, doing puzzles and learning new skills.
• Eat well. Lots of fresh fruits and veggies and quality protein.
• Limit alcohol.
• Stay hydrated.
• Get enough sleep.
• Manage high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes.
• Manage stress.
• Avoid tobacco in all forms.

[As a side note: There is a point when you need to be concerned about brain function in a person. Red flags include increased moodiness, inability to follow directions, decreased personal hygiene, getting lost in a familiar place, repeating questions or statements. At that point a doctor’s visit may be warranted. Or at least family members should be made aware of the situation and plans put in place.]

What about taking brain supplements?

Nowadays there is a supplement for everything and that includes the brain. While I am pro supplement, it’s hard to know if pricy supplements are actually doing anything. The research just isn’t there for many of them. The best we have are customer testimonials and our own experience. Do I feel better taking this? Do I notice any difference?

Harvard Medical School writes “Invest in doing more exercise and following a plant-based diet. These can help with memory and brain health in the long term more than any supplement.” So there’s that.

In conclusion

Aging takes you by surprise. As a woman, I wasn’t prepared for menopause and the plethora of changes it brought (and is still bringing). And I certainly never expected that my brain would start failing me! Still knowing there are things that I can do to slow the decline helps. I hope they help you too.

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Disclaimer: This information is not intended to replace medical advice. Please seek the advice of a qualified medical professional.