Senior Living News

What Does Natural Aging Do to the Brain?

The natural aging process can affect the brain in a few ways. In older adults, key areas of the brain responsible for learning may decrease in size. Aging can also impact the way regions of the brain communicate, making it more difficult for nerve cells called neurons to send signals to one another. Some seniors also experience reduced blood flow to the brain. As a result, the brain may receive less oxygen than it once did. Additionally, seniors may be more prone to inflammation in the brain due to illnesses and chronic conditions.

What Is Dementia?

Dementia is the term for a reduction in cognitive function that interferes with a person’s ability to perform daily activities. Although it can occur in younger people, dementia is most common among older adults, and the risk for developing it increases with age. Around one-third of people over the age of 85 have dementia. Types of dementia include:

• Alzheimer’s disease: The most common form of dementia in seniors, Alzheimer’s disease seems to be linked to a buildup of protein plaques, called amyloid plaques and tau tangles, in the brain.
• Lewy body dementia: This form of dementia happens when another type of protein, commonly referred to as Lewy bodies, accumulates in the brain.
• Vascular dementia: Damage to blood vessels in the brain or a severe reduction of blood to the brain beyond what occurs with natural aging are the primary causes of this type of dementia.
• Frontotemporal dementia: This type of dementia happens when two proteins, tau and TDP-43, build up in the front of the brain. It tends to develop in people under the age of 60 rather than seniors.
• Mixed dementia: When a person has two or more types of dementia, health care providers refer to it as mixed dementia.
• Secondary dementia: With this form of dementia, symptoms develop due to an underlying health condition, such as Huntington's disease, Parkinson’s disease, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or a traumatic brain injury.

With each of these types of dementia, the underlying cause of symptoms goes beyond natural age-related changes. Most often, dementia is a progressive condition, meaning signs are likely to be mild at first and then worsen over time.

What Are the Cognitive Signs of Natural Aging?

Natural aging-related changes in the brain can cause noticeable differences in how you think. You may need to take longer to remember names or complete a complicated task, or you might find you learn new skills at a slower pace. Becoming distracted or losing focus when multitasking are also potential signs of natural aging, as is occasionally misplacing things. However, most older adults without dementia can often still perform tasks that require learning, concentration and complex reasoning if given enough time and a distraction-free environment, and their symptoms aren't likely to greatly interfere with daily life.

What Are the Signs of Dementia-Based Cognitive Decline?

Unlike those who experience natural age-related cognitive changes, people in the early stages of dementia often can’t simply overcome challenges if given enough time and the opportunity to focus. Dementia symptoms can also make performing daily activities and living independently difficult. Some early warning signs of dementia include:

• Frequently forgetting very recent events
• Repeating questions in a short time frame
• Misplacing items because you put them in unusual or illogical spots
• Not being able to recall the season or month
• Frequently struggling to think of the right words to say during conversations
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Mood and emotional changes, such as irritability, anxiety and depression
• Finding it difficult to complete basic tasks, such as brushing teeth, preparing a meal or operating a TV remote

What to Do If You Think It’s More Than Natural Aging

Although there are distinctive differences between cognitive changes related to aging and dementia, it can be difficult to determine on your own the cause of forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating and other issues. If you’re concerned about any symptoms, schedule an appointment to discuss them with your health care provider. They can discuss your symptoms with you, order imaging tests and administer cognitive tests to determine if there's any cause for concern. Residents of Autumn View Gardens Creve Coeur can schedule transportation to and from medical appointments to make getting help for symptoms easier.

There's no cure for dementia. However, there are medications and other treatments that may help you manage symptoms, especially if you receive a diagnosis early, so don’t put off talking to your health care provider about cognitive concerns.