Q: Alzheimer’s disease runs in my family so I am anxious to try to prevent or at least delay it for as long as possible. Do you have any exercises to keep my brain cells and memory in good shape?
A: The key to keeping your brain active is to do and think new things as much as possible. I know some people who do crossword puzzles and others who play saduko games. Other people think that reading helps. The problem with all these activities is that they become routine and repetitive after a while, so while one part of the brain gets exercised, other parts are not receiving attention. Routine makes life easier, and as we get older, it becomes more comfortable to do the same things every day at the same time.
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Alzheimer’s affects your sense of direction first so one of the first signs of the illness is getting lost when you are in what should be familiar territory. So try to vary your route when walking or driving.
Try reading a different paper or magazine. If you are regular reader of The Western Producer, try reading pages that you usually avoid. If you are a man who is more interested in cattle or grain, read the Farm Living section occasionally. If you are a woman who enjoys recipes, read more about agricultural politics.
Take a class in something new, such as learning another language. I have been trying to learn a new Chinese word each time I visit a Chinese restaurant.
Many people say they have trouble remembering numbers. It is easier if you break up the numbers into groups of two. Often these numbers can be associated with something like your house number, shoe size or lucky numbers. Visualizing the number is also a good trick. For example, you might see it on a brass plate in front of your house. This way, you can remember a four digit PIN number or password for the computer. If my lucky number is 42 and my shoe size is 10, my password or PIN could be 1042 or 4210.
Playing video or computer games that require speedy responses have also been shown to be beneficial, even after brain injuries. Get together with your kids or grandkids and play some games.
Forgetting to take medications at the right time of day is a problem for some older people. In this case, you can buy boxes from the pharmacy that are divided into days of the week and times of day, so that you or a caregiver can put the pills in the right slots for a week at a time. You will know if you have taken the pill if it is missing from the slot.
Clare Rowson is a retired medical doctor living near Belleville, Ont. Her columns are intended for general information only. Individuals are encouraged to also seek the advice of their own doctor regarding medical questions and treatments.
