Brain Business , O c t o b e r 2015

First Steps Class What Is Cognitive Aging?

“Cognition” refers to mental functions involved in This 5 week, one day a week attention, thinking, understanding, learning, remembering, series is for the early problem solving, and decision making. Cognitive aging is a diagnosed and their care process of gradual and highly variable changes in cognitive partner to become active functions that occur as persons age. Cognitive aging is not a participants in their care by disease or a level of impairment; rather, it is a lifelong education of the disease, as process that affects everyone. Some cognitive functions, well as care and treatment such as memory and reaction time, decrease, whereas options. others, such as wisdom and knowledge, increase with age. Primary care visits and the Medicare Annual Wellness Monday, October 26 visit are important opportunities to screen for cognitive through Monday, impairment, assess risk factors, and obtain education about November 23 ways to improve health through lifestyle choices. 1:30pm to 3:30pm Sometimes a formal cognitive assessment is required to Center for Family detect cognitive impairment because early deficits are easily Caregivers missed. A simple screening test is often the best way to establish a baseline for those concerned about memory Please register by calling issues. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment test (MoCA) is Lynne at (321) 434-7614 used locally to screen for Mild Cognitive Impairment. It is easy to use and is available free to medical professionals. ************************ Based on the results, your health care provider might consider screening for risk factors, including cardiovascular The East Central Florida risks, alcohol use, smoking, diet, exercise, depression, and Memory Disorder Clinic other chronic conditions. will be offering individual Several recommendations are supported by evidence to classes on the following promote healthy brain aging. First and foremost, regular topics at the Center for physical exercise is recommended to maintain cognitive Aging Institute Family Caregivers in October: health. Second, patients should work to reduce their Fronto-Temporal dementia cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, Lewy-Body dementia diabetes, and smoking. Minimizing psychoactive and medications and avoiding delirium are other important Caregiver Depression, steps. Finally, maintaining social engagement and lifelong Stress and Anxiety learning and getting adequate sleep are recommended to optimize cognition. These are ways we can all work to keep Please see page 3 for more our brain working for as long as we need it. It takes a details on these three class lifetime of effort to maintain a healthy brain, but it is never

to late to start.

Medication & Aging Brain Enhancing Products

On average, persons aged 65 years or Memory problems are very much on the older are prescribed 14 different drugs per year. mind of all of us who have celebrated a certain Many of these may have adverse (negative) number of birthdays. It is often hard to know effects on cognitive (thinking) skills. Patients what to believe. Many products for “cognitive enhancement” are advertised directly to and caregivers should use caution when starting consumers, including various nootropics (over new medications and work with their health care the counter memory enhancing drugs), professionals to minimize potentially nutritional supplements, and cognitive training inappropriate medications – especially for tools (brain games). anyone who has problems with memory & Typically, these products have not been thinking. carefully tested to evaluate their benefits or Anticholinergic medications, prescribed adverse effects. For example, brain games in 20% to 50% of older adults at any given have become widely popular but their time, are highly associated with short- and long- evaluation has been limited. Evidence for the transfer of specific cognitive-training skills to term adverse cognitive effects. Anticholinergic real-world tasks and long-term retention of the medications potentially reduce the amount of skills is not yet supported by well-controlled acetylcholine in the brain. Acetylcholine is an studies. Though it is generally believed that important neurotransmitter – allowing brain keeping your mind active and challenged is a cells to communicate to one another. It is good thing, no one specific type of brain believed that Acetylcholine is important in the exercise has been proven to be superior to making and storage of new memories. In another. contrast, most of the medications currently used Health care professionals and the general public are advised to use caution when to treat memory disorders seek to increase the deciding whether to recommend or try these amount of acetylcholine in the brain. Many products. In addition, these products may over-the-counter antihistamines, such as detract time and resources from activities that diphenhydramine, and some of the bladder have proven benefits, such as physical exercise medications are potent anticholinergic agents, and cardiovascular risk reduction. and it is important to educate older patients Maintaining cognitive health is a major about their potential risks. concern for older adults. Although much Families should review medications remains to be learned about which with primary care physicians regularly to interventions are the most effective to enhance assess benefits and risks. Ask questions before cognitive aging, the recent Institute of starting new medication and start each new Medicine report suggests that much can and medication one at a time. Individuals have to should be done now. Health care professionals weigh the potential effects a medication can will play an increasingly vital role in ensuring have on memory with the positive affects it their patients' cognitive health. could have on what it is being prescribed for. Patients and families have the ultimate responsibility to advocate for safer prescribing of medication to all older adults.

3661 South Babcock Street, Melbourne, FL 32901 Phone (321) 434-7612 http://www.ecfmdc.org Memory Disorder Clinic Educational Classes for October 2015

Personal Toolkit: Current class participants will be joining Dr. Visa to assemble their “All-in- One Toolkit”. Thursday, October 8, from 10:30am to 11:30am at the Center for Family Caregivers.

The Memory Disorder Clinic is sponsoring the following 3 classes, facilitated by Pat DeAngelis. Please register for any/all of these classes by calling (321) 434-7625.

Fronto-Temporal Dementa (FTD): Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent, but there are other types, including Fronto-Temporal dementia. Learn more about what to expect and how to cope. Wednesday, October 21 from 10:30am to 11:30am.

Lewy-Body Dementia: Join us to learn more about this brain disease that affects thinking, movement, behavior and sleep, and hear about current options that are available. Wednesday, October 28 from 10:30am to 11:30am.

Caregiver Depression: Stress and Anxiety: This class is designed to help caregivers understand how caring for a loved one affects physical, mental, and emotional health. Discussions will be on identifying signs and symptoms of depression/anxiety, and how stressful situations can lead to harmful behaviors. Learn how to develop coping strategies for treatment, resources, and support options. Thursday, October 29, 10:30am to noon.

Stress-Busting Alumni: Friday, October 2, from 10:00am to 11:30am. Facilitated by Lynne Brownrigg of the Memory Disorder Clinic.

EASE Alumni: Wednesday, October 7, from 2:00p.m. -3:30p.m., at the Health First Center for Family Caregivers. Facilitated by Farah Sivolella.

Osceola Caregiver Educational Class and Support Group: David Slonim, Elder Law Attorney will be with us again on Friday, October 9, from 10:30am to 11:30am, prior to the 1:30pm support group .For more information, please call lynne at (321) 434-7614.

Virtual Dementia Tour: A free tour offering a hands-on experience created for anyone seeking to understand the physical and mental challenges of those with Alzheimer's and other related dementias. Wednesday, October 14, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at Hibiscus Court in Melbourne. You must call to schedule an appointment. Call Monday thru Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at: (321) 253-4430.

Memory Screens The Memory Clinic offers brief memory screens at no charge, at various locations throughout the community. The memory screen will not provide a diagnosis, but it’s a good first step for a “baseline”, or to see if there are memory concerns. Please see below the locations for the month of June. You must call the included phone number for a 30 minute appointment at the location that you wish to attend. East Central Florida Memory Clinic – south Melbourne – (321) 434-7612 Sunflower House – Merritt Island, Merritt Square Mall – (321) 452-4341

ADDRESSES AND PHONE NUMBERS

Memory Disorder Clinic 3661 S. Babcock St. (2nd Floor), Melbourne (321) 434-7612 Center for Family Caregivers 3661 S. Babcock St., Melbourne (321) 434-7625 Brevard Alz Foundation 4676 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne (321) 253-4430 Osceola Council on Aging 700 Generation Point, Kissimmee (407) 846-8532 Sunflower House 777 E. Merritt Island Causeway, Merritt Island (321) 452-4341 Joe’s Club 4676 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne (321) 253-4430

To receive or discontinue this newsletter, please contact Lynne Brownrigg at (321) 434-7614 or email her at [email protected]

The List! Put this list of beverages in order of when they were introduced, starting with the oldest beverage. 1. Kool-Aid 2. Coca-Cola 3. Instant Coffee 4. Tang

(1957) Tang

4. (1927) Aid - Kool 3.

(1909) Coffee Instant 2.

(1886) Cola - Coca 1.

Answers