Cancer - Elderly Liza

Debra wants to know how good sleep leads to a good memory and how disrupted sleep can lead to a poor memory. Well, memory is a three-step process that needs sleep in the middle. The first step is the received memory that is stored for short-term holding. The second step is where sleep gets involved.

During sleep, short term memories are reviewed and edited in preparation for their long term storage. The process is called memory consolidation. It works best with a sound sleep. Disrupted sleep tends to fragment such memories as they are being stored. A patient of mine, a neurologist says, the more sound the sleep, the more intact the memory lasts in long-term storage.

But even under ideal sleep circumstances, memory is seldom a perfect carbon copy of the original. Recalled memories are usually modified a little during their retrieval. Compare similar later accounts of different individuals from the same event.

Debra wants to know how good sleep leads to a good memory and how disrupted sleep can lead to a poor memory. Well, memory is a three-step process that needs sleep in the middle. The first step is the received memory that is stored for short-term holding. The second step is where sleep gets involved.

During sleep, short term memories are reviewed and edited in preparation for their long term storage. The process is called memory consolidation. It works best with a sound sleep. Disrupted sleep tends to fragment such memories as they are being stored. A patient of mine, a neurologist says, the more sound the sleep, the more intact the memory lasts in long-term storage.

But even under ideal sleep circumstances, memory is seldom a perfect carbon copy of the original. Recalled memories are usually modified a little during their retrieval. Compare similar later accounts of different individuals from the same event.

TRUE/FALSE? Memory declines are accelerated in sedentary elderly individuals if compared to those who are physically active…True.

2ND OPINION: For several years…more than 100 active retirees had their cognitive skills measured every six months…and showed no declines…so physical activity helps preserve memory.

FANCY THAT! But stressful daytime situations…such as rudeness, traffic jams, long waiting lines…have been shown to progressively erode cognitive function.

PATIENT OF MINE: a geriatrician says preserving their mental health is a good reason for her patients to walk daily…a preference over yoga and meditation.

TRUE/FALSE? Memory declines are accelerated in sedentary elderly individuals if compared to those who are physically active…True.

2ND OPINION: For several years…more than 100 active retirees had their cognitive skills measured every six months…and showed no declines…so physical activity helps preserve memory.

FANCY THAT! But stressful daytime situations…such as rudeness, traffic jams, long waiting lines…have been shown to progressively erode cognitive function.

PATIENT OF MINE: a geriatrician says preserving their mental health is a good reason for her patients to walk daily…a preference over yoga and meditation.

Memory Trick

TRUE/FALSE? The basic rule of recall, as you get older, is repetition…True.

2ND OPINION: By repeating the word…like a new name you need to recall…out loud so you hear it too…you create a second re-enforcement track.

FANCY THAT! Forgetting names is a normal feature of aging…and not a sign of coming dementia…where memory loss is increasing, progressive and relentless.

PATIENT OF MINE: is a hostess famous for remembering guests’ names…and has a white board in her kitchen where the names of expected new guests are boldly on display…days ahead of any encounter…along with their memorable peculiarities…coded for secrecy.

Memory Trick

TRUE/FALSE? The basic rule of recall, as you get older, is repetition…True.

2ND OPINION: By repeating the word…like a new name you need to recall…out loud so you hear it too…you create a second re-enforcement track.

FANCY THAT! Forgetting names is a normal feature of aging…and not a sign of coming dementia…where memory loss is increasing, progressive and relentless.

PATIENT OF MINE: is a hostess famous for remembering guests’ names…and has a white board in her kitchen where the names of expected new guests are boldly on display…days ahead of any encounter…along with their memorable peculiarities…coded for secrecy.