Is your forgetfulness causing you embarrassment?
Are you noticing it takes much longer to figure things out in your head
Maybe you worry about Dementia or Alzheimers.
Many women have these unwelcome experiences and want to do something about how they age.
As I approached my late 50’s I had got so forgetful. It wasn’t just forgetting why I had walked into a room or where the bloody keys were. It was more than that.
I’ve always been a bit vague- undiagnosed ADHD, but I was forgetting people’s names and some appointments.
My kids were worried.
I would laugh it off but deep down an undercurrent of fear was bubbling away.
You see we have a family history of Alzheimers.
So I know the devastation this can bring to families.
I’ll be sharing a poem I wrote about my beloved Aunty Rel who suffered Alzheimers and now her two daughters have been diagnosed.
As we journey through life, one question looms large over our heads: how do we age gracefully, confidently, vibrantly and healthily?
Among the changes we experience, cognitive or brain function changes play a significant role, in influencing how we navigate our daily activities, relationships, and overall sense of self and well-being.
From the gentle ebbs and flows of memory to the more concerning signs of cognitive (or brain function) decline, understanding these changes is crucial for fostering healthy aging and empowering us to maintain our cognitive vitality.
But before we do that, I want to stress 2 important things:
1stly if you are experiencing worrying changes in how your brain works, there are so many things you can do to slow the changes right down and in a lot of situations reverse the changes.
2ndly as we get older we also have many cognitive gains or what I call wisdom gains: With age comes wisdom. Life experiences, challenges, and triumphs accumulate over the years, enriching cognitive processes such as problem-solving, decision-making, and emotional intelligence. Older women often exhibit a greater capacity for empathy and perspective-taking, drawing from their vast reservoir of life lessons.
Results from a recent scientific study clarify this:
• The most productive age of a person is 60 to 70 years;
• The 2nd most productive human stage is the age from 70 to 80 years old.
• They found that at 60 you reach the peak of your emotional and mental potential, and this continues until you are 80.
Therefore, if you are 60, 70, or 80 years old, you are in the best years of your life.
Normal cognitive changes are a natural part of aging and typically involve subtle declines in certain cognitive abilities. These changes may include a slight decrease in thinking speed and attention, which can manifest as taking longer to process information or becoming easily distracted. Tasks that once were swiftly executed may now require a bit more time and effort.
While it may lead to occasional frustration, it’s considered a typical part of the aging process.
Additionally, mild forgetfulness, such as occasionally forgetting appointments or social engagements, may occur but does not significantly impair daily functioning. And occasional mental foginess.
But some cognitive changes warrant closer attention. Distinguishing between normal aging and potential cognitive impairment is crucial. Consulting with a healthcare professional for proper assessment and diagnosis is crucial if abnormal cognitive changes are observed, as early intervention and management can help improve outcomes and quality of life. for timely intervention and appropriate management.
- Persistent and worsening forgetfulness may signal a more significant concern. Difficulty recalling recent events, repeating questions, or relying heavily on memory aids could indicate underlying cognitive impairment, such as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or dementia. Feeling mentally foggy or disoriented on a regular basis can indicate cognitive impairment beyond typical aging.
- Difficulties in managing finances, organizing tasks, feeling overwhelmed by choices, or experiencing difficulties in navigating familiar environments could be signs of impaired executive function and spatial awareness.
- Language skills typically remain relatively stable throughout normal aging. However, persistent difficulties in finding words, following conversations, or understanding written text may suggest the onset of conditions that require further investigation.
- Changes in personality and behaviour like significant mood swings, social withdrawal, or apathy, can significantly impact interpersonal relationships and daily functioning.
Now, let’s shift gears and talk about empowering women with strategies for cognitive vitality.
For vitality and resilience. Empowering women to prioritize brain health is paramount for enhancing cognitive health and overall quality of life.
Here are some strategies to promote cognitive vitality:
1. Stimulating Engagement: Engage in mentally stimulating activities such as reading, puzzles, learning new skills, and social interactions to keep the brain active and agile.
2. Physical Fitness: Regular exercise not only benefits the body but also boosts cognitive function by increasing blood flow to the brain and promoting neuroplasticity. Combined body & brain training workouts are the best.
3. Nutritional Nourishment: Maintain a balanced diet rich in brain-boosting nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins B and E to support cognitive health.
4. Quality Sleep: Prioritize restorative sleep to consolidate memories, enhance cognitive processing, and recharge the brain for optimal functioning.
5. Mindful Mindset: Cultivate mindfulness practices such as meditation, deep breathing, and stress reduction techniques to foster mental clarity and emotional resilience.
6. Regular Check-ups: Schedule routine medical check-ups to monitor cognitive health, address any concerning symptoms, and collaborate with healthcare providers to develop personalized wellness plans.
Remember, empowering ourselves with knowledge and proactive measures can pave the way for a fulfilling journey through our older years. Here’s to embracing cognitive vitality and thriving at every stage of life!
I’d like to share with you now a poem I wrote celebrating my beloved Aunty Rel. who died from Alzhiemers:
I spoke to my aunty but she wasn’t there.
We laughed and cried that she wasn’t there.
She told me her life is just too hard to bear and for me it seems so bloody unfair.
What day is it today I often heard her say she seems to need me more and more just to find her way.
Details of the distant past flicker bright and true. While confused meandering punctuate all that is new.
Her memory is slowly dying. Her reality is in fast decay.
Stories from the past have some clarity, but there’s no tomorrow and it’s no today. I wish I could make her pain go away.
She was so full of life, cheeky and fun. The first one up when it was time to dance.
She talked to strangers and they’d share a laugh. But now she sits lost in a trance, dreaming of her youth when she took a chance.
I spoke to my auntie but she wasn’t. We laughed and cried but she wasn’t there.
She told me her life is just too hard to bear and for me it seems so bloody unfair.
I know she loved us with her beautiful maternal heart even though it can be such a struggle playing that part.
All those years of devotion trying to create moments of eternal bliss.
Then the Cruel Hand of Fate led her on a search for unrequited love.
I often wonder though if she experienced passion for the first time in her life something that had eluded her as a wife.
I spoke to my auntie but she wasn’t there. We laughed and cried but she wasn’t there.She told me her life is just too hard. And for me, it seems so bloody.
She stares out the window hour after hour. But she can’t tell me what she knows she sees.
She looks the same except for her blank eyes cause what made her special is on its knees. Can’t someone explain what’s happening please.
The time will come when she won’t recognize me. I’ll be someone else she thought she once knew.
Then all sense of her life will be lost to her. And we’ll be left trying to keep it together at any cost, but feeling so terribly lost.
I spoke to my aunty, but she wasn’t. I laugh and cry now thinking of all that we shared, knowing that she was indeed someone rare who showed me how to open to others, how to show them you care.