Most of us are familiar with the-too much...too little...just right-story of
Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Something similar happens inside the brains, and around the lives, of individuals with Alzheimer's.
Current theory holds that Alzheimer's begins to manifest itself in a region of the brain called the hippocampus. It is made up of two curved structures that lie towards the center of your head. Some people believe that these structures look like sea horses, and so that's where it gets its name from the Greek words for curved horse. The hippocampus helps us to filter and organize information, and it helps us to form new memories.
When we walk down a busy sidewalk filled strangers, the hippocampus is busy make decisions on whether we need to remember all the new faces that we are seeing. In this situation, the hippocampus determines that they are unimportant to us, and so we don't remember every single person we see. However, in a situation where you meet a new boss, or your future in-laws, our hippocampus determines that these are people worth remembering, and so we commit them to memory.
In a person with Alzheimer's, the hippocampus starts to have problems filtering out information. It gets distracted by unimportant facts and it misses essential details. Researchers have shown that proper mental and emotional stimulation is essential to people with Alzheimer's. In fact, it's important for all people whether you have dementia or not. In patients with Alzheimer's, the nature and level of this stimulation is critical.
As the aspens turn gold and the air turns crisp, our thoughts may turn to the upcoming holiday season. For some, this will be a time to visit loved ones who have recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Families may even plan reunions right after a diagnosis, in the hopes of making the most of the time they have together. If you have a large extended family, you might wish to modify your plans. Interaction with family is important. Alzheimer's is typically a slow, progressive disease, and it's not contagious. Overtime, your interactions with your loved one will change as the disease progresses, but appropriate and purposeful interaction is essential to maintain a high quality of life.
As was mentioned, the hippocampus helps us to filter out stimulation coming at us, and in Alzheimer's that part of the brain is under attack. This creates a situation that I call the Goldilocks effect, where an Alzheimer's patient can be easily under-stimulated and easily over-stimulated. While each person is different, it's possible to see this effect in a family reunion situation-too many people attempting to interact at the same time. The person can become overwhelmed emotionally and mentally.
As an alternative to a single, large family gathering, you might consider spreading the visits out over an entire day or a weekend. Instead of one holiday meal and party, split into smaller groups over multiple meals. This will create a longer period of more appropriate levels of stimulation. If this is done, you might find that the person has better recall and more fun.
Alzheimer's is a disease not of just one person, but a condition that affects the entire family. There may be hard times and challenges, but with some small changes you can add quality to this time of life and make new, special memories that you might not have thought possible.
If you would like to learn more about our brain, living with Alzheimer's, and things that can be done to help improve mental acuity, please attend a free seminar co-sponsored by
Brighton Gardens of Lakewood, Sunrise at Cherry Creek and
MEMORY BRIDGING. Mindful Aging: Memory Loss will be at 6:30 pm on Thursday, October 18 th at 12791 West Alameda Parkway, Lakewood, CO 80228. Please call 303-237-5700 for directions or to RSVP.