Why Older People Lose Their Memory
The stereotype of the old forgetful person whose memory
often fails him is widely held, but the reason for its appearance was never
really pinpointed. Much like gray hair and wrinkles, it was just thought to be
part of growing old.
Now new research from Adam M. Brickman, PhD, of the Taub
Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain at Columbia
University Medical Center in New York, shows that silent strokes may be the
cause. Essentially small dead spots in the brain are found in one out of four
elderly people.
Brickman's study is published in the January 3rd issue of
Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology and he
states :
"The new aspect of this study of memory loss in the
elderly is that it examines silent strokes and hippocampal shrinkage
simultaneously."
His study was conducted with over 650 people aged 65 and
older. They were free from dementia and were given MRI brain scans. They also
took tests to measure their memory, language, speed at processing information
and visual perception. Of the 658 people, 174 were identified as having had
silent strokes.
Those 174 scored worse on memory tests, regardless of how
large their hippocampus was.
Brickman says that :
"Given that conditions like Alzheimer's disease are
defined mainly by memory problems, our results may lead to further insight into
what causes symptoms and the development of new interventions for prevention.
Since silent strokes and the volume of the hippocampus appeared to be
associated with memory loss separately in our study, our results also support
stroke prevention as a means for staving off memory problems."
It's not known exactly why or how Alzheimer's destroys
the brain's memory, but research has started to show accumulations of proteins
called called amyloid plaques, among brain cells. Larger tangled protein
strands then start to appear inside the cells. However, treatments to remove
the proteins have not been particularly successful in improving memory loss.
Brickman's research points the investigation in a new
direction, and focuses more on the vascular system. While circulation and loss
of brain function from minute strokes may not be the whole solution its
certainly an important part of it, as Brickman concludes :
"What our study suggests is, even when we account
for the decline in memory attributed to hippocampal shrinkage or degeneration,
that strokes ... play an additional role in the memory decline," Brickman
says. He is the Herbert Irving assistant professor of neuropsychology at
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
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