Age Related Memory Loss &Age Related Memory Loss &How to Improve MemoryHow to Improve Memory

What is memoryWhat is memory How we rememberHow we remember Age related memory lossAge related memory loss Causes of memory impairmentCauses of memory impairment How to prevent memory lossHow to prevent memory loss How to improve memoryHow to improve memory Alzheimer’s DiseaseAlzheimer’s Disease

NATEA SeminarNATEA Seminar March 27, 2010 March 27, 2010 Kim W. YangKim W. Yang

DISCLAIMERDISCLAIMER The information I am giving to you today is The information I am giving to you today is

intended for general reference purposes intended for general reference purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice or a medical exam. Always medical advice or a medical exam. Always seek the advice of your physician or other seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional before qualified health professional before starting any new activity or life style starting any new activity or life style change. Medical information changes change. Medical information changes rapidly and while I make efforts to update rapidly and while I make efforts to update the content in my speech, some the content in my speech, some information may be out of date.information may be out of date.

Kim W. Kim W. YangYang

What is Memory?What is Memory?

All that you remember, Information Retaining.All that you remember, Information Retaining. Your Capacity for RememberingYour Capacity for Remembering Your mind works a lot like a computer. Your brain Your mind works a lot like a computer. Your brain

puts information it judges to be important into puts information it judges to be important into "files." When you remember something, you pull "files." When you remember something, you pull up a file. Memory doesn't always work perfectly. up a file. Memory doesn't always work perfectly. As people grow older, it may take longer to As people grow older, it may take longer to retrieve those files. retrieve those files.

It's normal to forget things once in a while. We've It's normal to forget things once in a while. We've all forgotten a name, where we put our keys, or if all forgotten a name, where we put our keys, or if we locked the front door. But forgetting how to we locked the front door. But forgetting how to use the telephone or find your way home may be use the telephone or find your way home may be signs of a more serious problemsigns of a more serious problem

Short Term and Long Term MemoryShort Term and Long Term Memory

Sensory Memory, lasts 300 millisecond, Visual & Sensory Memory, lasts 300 millisecond, Visual & Auditory, unlimited capacityAuditory, unlimited capacity

Short Term MemoryShort Term Memory(1)(1) Working MemoryWorking Memory(2)(2) Fleeting and Limited (7 Fleeting and Limited (7 ++ 2 bytes) 2 bytes)(3)(3) Fragile & DecayingFragile & Decaying

Long Term MemoryLong Term Memory(1)(1) Emotionally CompellingEmotionally Compelling(2)(2) Personally MeaningfulPersonally Meaningful(3)(3) Virtually UnlimitedVirtually Unlimited

Long Term MemoryLong Term MemoryCategoriesCategories

Declarative or Explicit Memory:Declarative or Explicit Memory:Semantic & Factual Knowledge, not bound Semantic & Factual Knowledge, not bound to specific point of timeto specific point of timeEpisodic, tied to specific time & placeEpisodic, tied to specific time & place

Non-declarative or Implicit Non-declarative or Implicit MemoryMemory::Procedural Memory, Skill, RoutinesProcedural Memory, Skill, Routines

Long Term MemoryLong Term Memory Some long term memory will become irrelevant, Some long term memory will become irrelevant,

distorted, fade over time, some won’t fade over distorted, fade over time, some won’t fade over time.time.

Barring disease or injury to the brain, one can Barring disease or injury to the brain, one can always learn and retain something new.always learn and retain something new.

Human brain has 100 billion neurons, each neuron Human brain has 100 billion neurons, each neuron could make 5,000 to 10,000 synaptic connections. could make 5,000 to 10,000 synaptic connections. We have 500 to 1,000 trillion synaptic We have 500 to 1,000 trillion synaptic connections. Some estimates 10connections. Some estimates 1010 10 to 10to 101313 bytes bytes

Library of US Congress has 32 trillion bytes. Library of US Congress has 32 trillion bytes.

How We Remember?How We Remember?

Stage one:Stage one: Acquisition Acquisition

Stage two:Stage two: Consolidation Consolidation

Consolidation of Declarative MemoryConsolidation of Declarative Memory

Consolidation of Procedural MemoryConsolidation of Procedural Memory

Stage three:Stage three: Retrieval Retrieval

Human BrainHuman Brain

Human Memory MapHuman Memory Map

Reading Reading Hearing Hearing Thinking Thinking Saying, Singing Saying, Singing

Synaptic JunctionSynaptic Junction

Brain and NervesBrain and Nerves

Monkey (L) and Human (R) Spatial Working Memory: moved Monkey (L) and Human (R) Spatial Working Memory: moved upward & Rearward to serve more distinctly human functions upward & Rearward to serve more distinctly human functions

through evolutionthrough evolution

How Memory Changes With Age?How Memory Changes With Age?

Procedural Memory always OKProcedural Memory always OK Declarative memory fades with age, this type Declarative memory fades with age, this type

of memory depends on hippocampusof memory depends on hippocampus Learn more slowly and retrieve more slowly, Learn more slowly and retrieve more slowly,

more trouble recalling more trouble recalling Will power and effort can overcome this type of Will power and effort can overcome this type of

memory lossmemory loss Scientist used to think 10,000 brain cells (neuron) die every Scientist used to think 10,000 brain cells (neuron) die every

day when we age and could not re-grow. New evidences day when we age and could not re-grow. New evidences indicate our brains do grow new cells, especially if we keep indicate our brains do grow new cells, especially if we keep using our brain using our brain

How Memory Changes With Age?How Memory Changes With Age?((ContinuedContinued))

Neuro transmitters such as dopamine, Neuro transmitters such as dopamine, acetyl-choline. Serotonine, etc. reducedacetyl-choline. Serotonine, etc. reduced

Harder to remember, harder to Harder to remember, harder to learnlearn Would not impair our ability to remember:Would not impair our ability to remember:

1. 1. We are able to make more reasonable We are able to make more reasonable argumentsarguments

2.2. We are able to make correct judgmentWe are able to make correct judgment

3.3. Our wisdom gained from experiences Our wisdom gained from experiences remain unscathedremain unscathed

Normal Forgetting & Normal Forgetting & DementiaDementia

Seven types of Normal ForgettingSeven types of Normal Forgetting::1.1. TransienceTransience

2.2. AbsentmindednessAbsentmindedness3.3. Blocking (ugly stepsisters)Blocking (ugly stepsisters)4.4. Misattribution Misattribution 5.5. SuggestibilitySuggestibility6.6. BiasBias7.7. PersistencePersistence

Dementia:Dementia: Progressive deterioration, extreme & Progressive deterioration, extreme & debilitating, usually damage to the hippocampus & debilitating, usually damage to the hippocampus & related structure in the brainrelated structure in the brain

Mild Cognitive ImpairmentMild Cognitive Impairment

Not necessary sign of Alzheimer’s Not necessary sign of Alzheimer’s disease (disease (81% didn’t develop to Alzheimer’s 81% didn’t develop to Alzheimer’s Disease (AD))Disease (AD))

Causes:Causes:

1. Neurological disorder1. Neurological disorder Alzheimer Disease, Cerebrovascular Diseases & Stroke, Alzheimer Disease, Cerebrovascular Diseases & Stroke,

Head Trauma, Infectious disease to brainHead Trauma, Infectious disease to brain

2. Genes2. Genes

3. Hormones3. Hormones

4. Vitamin (B4. Vitamin (B1212) deficiency) deficiency

Mild Cognitive ImpairmentMild Cognitive Impairment(Causes Continued)(Causes Continued)

5.5. Cardiovascular Disease & its Risk Factors: Cardiovascular Disease & its Risk Factors: Hypertension, High Cholesterol, Diabetes, Coronary arteryHypertension, High Cholesterol, Diabetes, Coronary artery

bypass surgerybypass surgery

6. Depression6. Depression7. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder7. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder8. Thyroid dysfunction8. Thyroid dysfunction9. Hearing Loss9. Hearing Loss10. Sleep Disorders10. Sleep Disorders11. Medication11. Medication12. Lifestyle Factors:12. Lifestyle Factors: Alcohol,diet,lack of intellectual stimulations, sedentary life, lack of Alcohol,diet,lack of intellectual stimulations, sedentary life, lack of

sleep, stress, smoking, illicit drugs, toxic exposuresleep, stress, smoking, illicit drugs, toxic exposure

Blood Supply to Human Blood Supply to Human BrainBrain

How to Prevent Memory LossHow to Prevent Memory Loss1.1. ExerciseExercise

2.2. Keep learningKeep learning

3.3. Don’t smokeDon’t smoke

4.4. Drink alcohol in moderationDrink alcohol in moderation

5.5. Healthy dietHealthy diet

6.6. Vitamins: Multivitamins, C,D,E,BVitamins: Multivitamins, C,D,E,B66,B,B1212, Folic Acid, , Folic Acid,

Fish Oil, Olive OilFish Oil, Olive Oil

7.7. Good night sleepGood night sleep

8.8. FriendsFriends

9.9. Manage stressManage stress

10.10. Protect your head and brain, don’t get concussionProtect your head and brain, don’t get concussion

How to improve memoryHow to improve memory

Get organized Get organized (belongings, appointments, tasks, contacts, (belongings, appointments, tasks, contacts, vital information, locations, checklists)vital information, locations, checklists)

Get FocusGet Focus RepeatRepeat Ensure comprehensionEnsure comprehension Make noteMake note Be patientBe patient Spaced rehearsalSpaced rehearsal Professional memory trainingProfessional memory training Do small tasks firstDo small tasks first

Alzheimer’s DiseaseAlzheimer’s Disease

What it is?What it is? Signs & SymptomsSigns & Symptoms Causes, Risks & PreventionCauses, Risks & Prevention Drug Treatments & CareDrug Treatments & Care

Normal and Advance AD BrainsNormal and Advance AD Brains

                                              

                                                                                                                            

    

Under The MicroscopeUnder The Microscope

                                                  

                                                                                                                            

            

                                                  

                                                                                                                            

            

Progression Through the BrainProgression Through the Brain

                                                

                                                                                                                            

              

                                                

                                                                                                                            

              

New HopesNew Hopes

Adult animals and human do grow Adult animals and human do grow new brain cells (neurons)new brain cells (neurons)

New Medications:New Medications: Ampakines, secretase inhibiters, huperzine A Ampakines, secretase inhibiters, huperzine A

alithium-like drugs, alzhemed, vaccine, NSAIDs alithium-like drugs, alzhemed, vaccine, NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, naproxen, celecoxib, etc.(Ibuprofen, naproxen, celecoxib, etc.

Stem-cell TransplantsStem-cell Transplants Gene TherapyGene Therapy

Thank you allThank you all

Dementia SummaryDementia Summary Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Vascular DementiaVascular Dementia Mixed Dementia (AD Plus)Mixed Dementia (AD Plus) Dementia With Lewy BodiesDementia With Lewy Bodies Parkinson’s DiseaseParkinson’s Disease Frontotemporal DementiaFrontotemporal Dementia Creutzfeldt-Jakob DiseaseCreutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Huntington’s DiseaseHuntington’s Disease Wernicke-Korsakoff SyndromeWernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome Normal Pressure HydrocephalusNormal Pressure Hydrocephalus