Some forgetfulness is a normal part of aging, but it is common to worry that it may lead to dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease. Right now, there’s no proven way to prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, but there’s plenty you can do to reduce your risk, delay symptoms, and feel confident that you are doing all you can to keep your memory in shape. The most important lifestyle habits include: daily physical exercise; eating a brain healthy diet such as a Mediterranean type diet; building brain reserving by doing such activities as playing board games, crosswords, learning the computer, or taking an art class; maintaining good sleep hygiene to restore memory; and managing stress.

Based on these principes and their own research on behavioral rehabilitation for amnestic mild cognitive impairment, Mayo Clinic recently began a new program called HABIT- Healthy Actions to Benefit Independence and Thinking. HABIT is a 10-day (50-hour), intensive outpatient program for persons who have received a diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment. It is a holistic & comprehensive program that proactively addresses cognitive changes and incorporates new habits for overall health and wellness in 5 areas: MEMORY COMPENSATION TRAINING, BRAIN FITNESS, GROUP THERAPY, MIND-BODY MOVEMENT & WELLNESS EDUCATION

Interested individuals who have received a diagnosis on Mild Cognitive Impairment are invited to attend an Informational Orientation. For more information including orientations and program dates, please contact Angela Lunde at lunde.angela@mayo.edu.

Thank you for taking the time and for your very considered reply, which has been extremely important in helping me sort out my situation. I would like to share with you an exercise that I have been doing for the last week, which I am not only enjoying but is also, I think, helping. Perhaps others might like to try it.

I realize, as you pointed out, that this loss is primarily associated with not focusing. In the midst of doing, or thinking, something, I remember another task and still focused on where my mind is, I move to take care of the other task, and, of course, when I start to take care of the second, I can’t remember what it was that took me away from the task upon which I was focused. How is that for a sentence that goes around in circles. Great for literary structure but hardly for anything else.

My new exercise: I am extremely right handed, and I have begun spending 20-40 minutes a day writing with my left, an exceedingly difficult task, one requiring serious focusing. The minute my mind wanders, so does my pencil. That new habit of focusing in so concrete an activity is beginning to spill over into the rest of my life. I now take time, when I do break into one focused point to introduce another, to plant the new “idea” firmly before starting to carry it out. Best of all, I am enjoying the new “game” and, naturally, the accompanying prowess that I am feeling.

While I don’t think that I have the “true memory problem” of forgetfulness that you suggest, I’ll take it up with the neurologist I’ll be seeing in a few weeks. I do keep an agenda for meetings and appointments, because life does get crowded. I never, on the other hand, forget to go swimming on schedule, although I may forget an indifferent movie within a few days. Rather a blessing.

Again, thank you for being so generous with your time and energy. It got me going. I am contemplating a series of Left-hand Poems. I don’t think that I’ll forget to do so.

With warmest good wishes,

Kossia Orloff

You have clearly articulated that despite potential genetic and environmental protective factors, you are experiencing some degree of forgetfulness. I would like to raise the following points:

“I did not know why I went to the room” is a common complaint. It can be indicative of habitually engaging in day-to-day activities without paying attention. For example, it is very common that some individuals drive their car from home to work with out noticing anything going on around them. Paying attention to day-to-day activities including the “boring” activities can help. These days the common cliche is “being in the present.” This can mean engaging the part of the brain involved with sustained attention.

Your concern may also indicate a true memory problem which is forgetfulness for recent events and future engagements. For example, if you forget that you have a flight from where you live to Paris then that counts as a true forgetfulness that can implicate the part of the problem involved in learning and recall.

If you are quite concerned about your memory, I suggest that you get evaluated by a behavioral neurologist or neuropsychiatrist who will do neurological evaluations and refer you for memory testing as well.

Most importantly, keep what you are doing. Also, make sure that you have a comfortable schedule. Sometimes, the stress of engaging in multiple tasks at the same time can contribute to difficult with sustained attention.

I hope this is helpful.

http://growingwithtruth.com/blog/91/how-to-exercise-your-brain/