While we all hope there is a quick fix to memory or cognitive issues, Consumer Reports confirmed that “By avoiding memory supplements, consumers can both save money and avoid unnecessary health risks.” You can learn more in this recent Washington Post story.
If you are noticing issues, the place to start is with your Primary Care Doctor. Are you taking drugs that might be impacting your memory and recall? Are there other factors that could be contributing to what you are noticing?
If you see your Primary Care Doctor, and are not satisfied with the recommendation or response, get a second opinion. I watched as my parent’s had issues that went unaddressed for years. It was frustrating to know something was wrong, but have their doctor’s just dismiss concerns.
Yes, it could have made a difference. If diagnosed early, individuals can be involved in planning for their future instead of us having to make our best guess on choices that had to be made for them. It was during the time we knew something was wrong that they also decided to stop paying for the long-term care insurance they been paying for nearly two decades. They have since required policy holders to designate a reporting contact so this doesn’t happen to others.
While my parents thought they had thoroughly planned everything, plans need to change when health and key members of your plans are unable to fulfill their obligations. So often spouses assume their spouse will be able to speak for them. In our case, both parents failed simultaneously. Other families report the spouse is in denial and sadly the result is the same.
I encourage you to be diligent in helping find a provider who can help you if you are noticing changes in your memory, or for a loved one if you are seeing changes in thinking and behavior.
My brother in law sent me a link to a website with resources by Biogen called CatchItEarly. They share while Alzheimer’s disease is usually diagnosed in people 65 and older, it starts earlier with subtle neurological changes occurring years or even decades before symptoms appear. Many people are experiencing early, often unrecognized, signs of mild cognitive impairment and this site offers educational resources about the signs and resources for several drugs in clinical trials.
We still don’t have a cure, but hope the information provided is helpful to you and your family. Recommended.