“Will memory loss one day cause me to forget my children and grandchildren?” It’s one of the greatest fears that grandparents face as they age and enter retirement.
And, unfortunately, that was the exact scenario that played out when my mother retired at the age of 65. While my brother and I were both supportive of Mom’s desire to quit working, I remember asking that if she was retiring from her work, what was she retiring to, with her response being, “I just want to be a grandma.” But, only a few years into her grandmother role, we started to notice unexplainable changes in my mother’s behavior. Resources about memory loss were hard to come by 30 years ago, and it took us nearly a year to finally get the diagnosis of “probable” Alzheimer’s disease. Within two years of the diagnosis, Mom had lost the ability to speak and we can only speculate as to whether or not she remembered anyone in the family.
But, the good news is that while science has yet to come up with a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, there has been a plethora of valuable information that has come forward. I was on the right track when I asked my mother what she planned to do in her retirement. Studies now show that seniors who keep both physically and mentally active can often delay the onset of dementia for many years and lessen the symptoms if dementia does occur.
Lastly, it’s important to note that some degree of memory loss is normal as we age, not all dementias are Alzheimer’s disease and some dementias are actually treatable. The key is early intervention. If you or someone you know is experiencing memory loss, talk to your family about it and don’t wait to see a doctor. The medical field has made vast improvements in understanding memory loss and it doesn’t have to take a year to get a diagnosis like it did for us. Don’t be surprised at all the tests that your doctor might require you to undergo. A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, for instance, can sometimes only be made by eliminating other possible diseases. And if it is Alzheimer’s disease, know that there are several effective medications that, while not cures nor treatments, can at least enhance the positive chemicals in the brain to where normal living can be maintained for many years.
Rob Allen is a free-lance journalist and author, a former broadcast news writer and reporter for United Press International , ABC Newsradio, 9 News (KUSA-TV) in Denver and a US Foreign Correspondent for The Media Line in Jerusalem, Israel. Through his work as an international corporate trainer for United Airlines and more than 25 years with the Alzheimer’s Association in Colorado and Southern California, he has delivered presentations throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. To contact Rob, please email at robjallen53@gmail.com.