Health
Matters
Memory - Leslie Bek
"Now, if my memory serves
me correctly" . . . As a child, my ears would perk
up whenever that statement punctuated a conversation involving a family
elder. I just knew something good or funny or interesting or all of
those things wrapped into one was soon to follow. A story about when
they were young and a loaf of bread cost five cents; the train ride
to visit Auntie; the great snow storm of ‘68; the time when Uncle
Joe's truck broke down . . .
Our memories can be like a photo album we carry around
in our minds. A self-contained video documentary of earlier times
that we can rewind and play over and over again. Memories of past
experiences can both torment and sustain us. We may not have a lot
of things we once had nor the people in our lives. Yet we comfort
ourselves with the assurance that our loved ones and cherished moments
always will be in our memories. Or will they? Our treasure chest of
life experiences can be lost.
Many of us have had concerns regarding an elderly friend
or family member's health. Often these concerns focus on that person's
mental capacity as we begin to notice changes in memory reflected
in conversation. Later we may take a look at ourselves and realize
that if we don't write something down, we may not remember to do it,
or we ask ourselves questions like, "Did I turn off the coffee
pot before I left the house this morning?" When should we seek
professional assistance in these matters of memory?
I've often heard recommendations regarding a variety of
health concerns, offering tips for identifiying symptoms, outlining
perameters we can treat at home, advising when we should seek medical
consultation or visit a walk-in clinic or emergency department. But,
has anyone ever heard of a memory clinic?
Our region, rich with health-care facilities and medical
specialties has just gotten richer, with the new Memory Diagnostic
Center of the Upper Peninsula.
The Memory Diagnostic Center of the Upper Peninsula recently
opened in the Teal Lake Medical Center in Negaunee. The Center is
the result of a collaborative effort between Bell Medical Center,
Bell Memorial Hospital, The Alzheimer's Association-Marquette/Alger
Chapter, NMU Department of Communication Disorders and Bell Behavioral
Services. Kevin T. Foley, M.D., Board Certified in Geriatrics and
Internal Medicine, serves as the medical director for the center.
The mission of the Memory Diagnostic Center is to provide a center
of excellence in the early diagnosis and treatment of dementia.
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe the loss
of cognitive or intellectual function. Many things can cause dementia.
Dementia's related to illnesses such as depression, drug interaction
and thyroid problems may be reversible if detected early. That is
why it is important that a professional assessment takes place, so
that the actual cause may be identified and proper care provided.
Assessments can include a detailed health history, a physical,
cognitive screening, recommendations for care and follow-up support.
The center is an outpatient consultation service designed to provide
a complete memory work-up for medical problems along with evaluations
and recommendations for services available in the Upper Peninsula.
Memory loss and changes in mood are some signs of Alzheimer's
Disease. First identified in 1906, Alzheimer's is a progressive degenerative
disease that attacks the brain and results in impaired memory, thinking
and behavior. It is the most common form of dementia. Approximately
four million Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. A national
survey in 1993 indicated that nineteen million Americans say they
have a family member with Alzheimer's and thirtyseven million know
someone with the disease.
Alzheimer's disease causes formation of abnormal structures
in the brain called "plaques" or "tangles". As
they accumulate in affected individuals, nerve cell connections are
reduced. Areas of the brain that influence short-term memory tend
to be affected first. Later, the disease works its way into sections
that control other intellectual and physical functions.
The cause of Alzheimer's remains uncertain and may be
attributed to a variety of factors such as age, family histor, or
genetics. Cases with several family members being diagnosed are rare,
except in families that have a history of early onset Alzheimer's,
a form of the disease that typically strikes middle-aged members of
the same family. While Alzheimer's can occur in people in their thirties,
fourties, and fifties, most who are diagnosed are over 65 years old.
Many healthy individuals are less able to remember certain
kinds of information as they get older. Thus, memory loss is often
considered a natural part of aging. However, a progressive memory
loss is not normal at any age and is reason for concern. A diagnosis
of Alzheimer's disease involves much more than simple lapses in memory.
People with Alzheimer's experience difficultiy communicating, learning,
thinking and reasoning. Alzheimer's is a disease that destroys brain
cells, which is not a normal part of aging.
Who can you call? The answer is the Memory Diagnostic
Center of the Upper Peninsula. Consultations are on Tuesday and Thursday
afternoons from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information call the
center at 475-7875. Cherish your memories.
—Leslie Bek
