Cognitive Function /Memory Loss – What are we to do?

Cognitive Function /Memory Loss – What are we to do?

Psychology Today: Plublish: May 2012, Vol. 54

By: Dulce M. Matamoros Columbie, MS, PhD.

Introduction

Loss of memory and of cognitive function affects people worldwide. Such loss may be the result of different progressive neurological disorders of the brain. It affects both men and women and is common in the elderly. However cognitive decline is not necessarily a function of aging.

Loss of Memory and Cognitive Function is serious disorder

Memory storage and cognitive function in the human brain includes mainly the right and left cerebral hemispheres. Memory loss may range from normal to a mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, or to a more severe disturbance, such as dementia. People age 55 to 90 years may have forgetfulness characterized by MCI, but may not be clinically diagnosed as having Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease.

Loss of Memory / Cognitive (brain) Function, mental slowing and intellectual decline.

Memory loss may be characterized as the difficulty or failure for immediate or delayed recall. The first type of memory loss relates to the failure to recall, within a few seconds, a specific object. Supplementing with acetyl l-carnitine will combat this initial short term memory loss. The second type relates to failure to recall a specific object, within a few minutes. Amnesia is an extreme condition in loss of memory. It is a disturbance which results in partial or total inability to recall, altogether, past experiences.

Cognitive function is defined as the intellectual process by which one becomes aware of, perceives, or comprehends ideas. Cognitive function embraces the quality of knowing, which includes all aspects of perception; recognition, conception, sensing, thinking, reasoning, remembering and imagining. Cognitive impairment is the difficulty in dealing with or reacting to new or novel information or situations.

Mental slowing is the difficulty in processing or completing previously learned tasks in a timely manner or in processing new information quickly. Intellectual decline is defined as a loss of information, or an inability to utilize information previously possessed or utilized by a person. For example a Parkinson patient may be affected by intellectual decline and may have difficulty in recognizing familiar surroundings, or recalling a well known date.

Finally, "aphasia" is an extreme loss of cognitive ability; it results from a dysfunction in the dominant hemisphere of the brain and may result in impaired or total loss of the ability to even speak or write.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary. For example in severe loss of cognitive function, symptoms may include difficulty thinking/concentrating, a drop in IQ, episodic memory loss, episodic memory gaps, amnesia, spells of aphasia, episodic problems with confusion, problems with fine/gross motor coordination, or brief dramatic changes in emotional status. Memory gaps and other cognitive problems may interfere severely with activities of daily living, such as working, or safe operation of motor vehicles.

Diagnosis of memory/cognitive loss

Until now, there hasn't been a clear method for evaluating patients affected with loss of memory or cognitive function. However, recent studies have provided new clinical diagnostic criteria to differentiate between people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), from healthy people or from those with mild Alzheimer's disease. For example, the studies have shown that patients with MCI do not experience the disorientation, general confusion and inability to perform activities of daily living that are characteristic of Alzheimer's patients. Also, the studies have shown that people with MCI
may be at increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease at a rate of 10 percent to 15 percent per year.

Use of the the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) and the digit symbol substitution test: There are numerous tests that assess mental processing, intellectual functioning, cognitive ability, and memory. The simplest and most widely used test for diagnosis of memory loss or cognitive impairment is the modified mini-mental state exam and the digit symbol substitution test. These tests help assess short- and long-term memory, spatial abilities, mental processing speed and many other related cognitive abilities. The testing includes having patients recall their date and country of birth, to count from 1 to 5 and then backwards again, to name specific body parts such as an arm or leg, to identify an animal that has four legs, to recognize associations between similar objects and activities, to recall objects that were shown previously, and to follow simple directions, such as folding a piece of paper in half.

Alternative therapies for memory / cognitive function loss

Thousands of published studies substantiate that a decline of memory/cognitive function can be controlled or even prevented. Some of these studies demonstrate that prevention can help maintain optimal brain function, while other studies show measurable benefit in reversing memory/cognitive impairment caused by normal aging or by a specific disease of aging, such as stroke.

Alternative therapies for patients suffering from loss of memory/cognitive function include several protocols of treatment, but mainly Intravenous Glutathione and nutrients that improve circulation to the brain. Whether a patient suffers from Parkinson's, Alzheimer's or some other neurological disorder of the brain, these treatments are very helpful. For example, Glutathione is an important nutrient and energy source for the brain and acts as a major antioxidant within each cell in patients with neurological brain disorders, or other age related diseases.

Since normal aging also creates a perfusion (circulation) deficit in the brain, even for healthy people, preventive treatments may include intravenous parental nutrition, such as Meyer's cocktail, Phosphatidyl serine, L-Carnitine, and vitamins. Nutrient protocols help improve circulation to an aging brain . Vitamins (particularly vitamin E) , play a significant role in slowing the progression from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease.

Also, since there is a definite relationship between atherosclerosis and diabetes and loss of memory /cognitive function, treating these disease with chelation therapy, provides a positive benefit. These treatments are beneficial in preventing cognitive impairment or even dementia.

Regardless of the cause ofmemory/cognitive loss, such treatments can help long-term recovery of mentalfunction, as well as in short-term memory, speech synthesis, concentration, and learning.