Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS | More
We interview Tara Reed, an artist who has also written the book, “What to do Between the Tears – A Practical Guide to Dealing with a Dementia or Alzheimer’s Diagnosis in the Family.”
Her dad had Alzheimer’s and passed away soon after this episode was recorded. The 2 Boomer Broads send her our love and prayers.
Coming to you this time from the 2 Boomer Broads Bombay Café.
Tara talks with us about normal aging and how to know if you may be at risk for dementia. Do you worry that you’ve been forgetful and think you’re losing your mind? Listen in by clicking on the player above because she has some wonderful tips to share.
What is normal aging and what is not? How to know if there is a problem on the horizon and what to do about it.
You may have a parent right now who has dementia like Tara did or you’re worried about your own mental health.
Tara refers to those who are concerned as the “worried well.” Most of us are fine but we worry every time we forget a word.
What inspired her to write the book was her experience going through it with her father. When he was in his late 60’s his personality began to change. Her family didn’t know if he was ill or he if was suddenly becoming a grumpy old man.
Tara hadn’t seen her parents for a few months and went to visit them. She noticed that her dad was acting strangely and asked her mom about it. Her mom broke down in tears. Sometimes changes in personality are easier to notice if you aren’t living with them every day. Her dad’s behavior wasn’t typical for him. Determine a person’s normal baseline. If they suddenly start cussing up a blue streak when they don’t normally cuss, that is a warning bell.
What is dementia?
Dementia is an umbrella term for memory loss and Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia. There are hundreds of different types. Dementia means your brain isn’t working properly and is declining in some way. Alzheimer’s occurs when proteins and plaques get into the brain, break connections and cause problems. Vascular dementia is a lack of something like blood flow to different areas of the brain that cause you to forget.
How to tell if someone has dementia
Early signs of dementia are related to the frontal lobe of the brain behind the forehead. It affects attention, focus, shorter term memory, inhibition, and judgment. 1 in 3 people over 85 have some level of dementia, which is normal.
What you can do to prevent it.
It helps to eat a healthy diet of non-processed foods and do exercises to work your frontal lobe. Tara’s dad was a college professor who used his mind constantly. He was reading a 900-page book about the universe at the time he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Tara learned that he wasn’t using the correct part of his brain because he mostly focused on learned knowledge and facts. Instead of re-reading facts you already know, always be learning and doing new things.
Sudoku, word searches, and other activities that require focus and attention are helpful. Crossword puzzles are not as effective because you are using learned knowledge rather than new knowledge.
Learning a new song or poem requires focus and attention and uses the frontal lobe. However, if you repeat the same song or poem over and over it becomes memorized and automatic. Another way to exercise the frontal lobe is to learn a new language. Rather than try to cram it all into your brain in a short amount of time, learn a new word every day.
In addition to eating healthy, Tara also uses a water filter to clean out toxins and heavy metals, which can disturb the brain. Avoid exposures. Be careful what you breathe, bathe in, put on your skin, and ingest into your body. Avoid eating too much sugar. Physical exercise helps as well.
Studies have been comparing Alzheimer’s with Diabetes. Alzheimer’s may be a type of diabetes for the brain. Tara’s dad went from not having a sweet tooth to having a crazy sweet tooth. The taste buds of people who have dementia change and they often crave sweets. Sweetness is one of the last things they can actually taste.
If you feel like you or anyone else you know may be experiencing the onset of dementia go to a doctor for a diagnosis. Don’t self-diagnose. The problem could be a vitamin deficiency or in the case of a celebrity, Lyme Disease. Start with a general doctor. He or she may refer you to a neurologist. They will do tests that can determine if you have dementia, what type you have and how to treat it.
Knowing that you may have the beginnings of dementia helps you prepare.
If you are over 50, it’s important to have all your legal documents in place. Once a person goes into full-on dementia they aren’t competent to sign documents so it’s important to be organized and have everything filled out before it happens. If you don’t, you will be adding stress and red tape that your family will have to deal with.
If you or someone else has the beginnings of dementia start keeping a journal. Write down detailed notes of changes you notice. Time tracking, name recognition, moods, food preferences etc.
Keep questioning if something doesn’t appear to be as it should be or doesn’t make sense. It will give you more credibility with doctors and give them clues on what to look for.
Make sure you are allowed to talk to doctors if you are caring for someone who has dementia. Get the patient to sign forms in case they are unable to make decisions so that you can confer with their physician. Never send anyone ill to a doctor by themselves, especially if they are over a certain age.
Record each doctor visit on your phone using a voice recorder to remember everything the doctor says. If you are not able to go to the appointment, have the patient record the session. You will become the patient’s advocate and voice.
Connect with Tara Reed
Visit Tara’s website at www.pivottohappy.com On her homepage, you will find the buttons – Spouse, Child, and Employer. Click on the one that applies to you and you will receive a list of 20 things you can do now.
Thanks for sharing this, Rebecca! I especially took note of what skills we need to nurture if we want to have a fighting chance against developing dementia. Valuable knowledge!
Thanks so much Joy! I’m glad you found it helpful. Tara did an excellent job.
Glad you found some “news you can use” Joy! 🙂 Thanks for listening!
This is really helpful information. I will be sharing this with my parents as well. Thank you.
You’re welcome, Estelle. Tara really took the time to learn about it while dealing with her dad.
Estelle – thank you! My goal is to make things easier on others than they were on me by sharing what is happening and what you can do. Best wishes!
Thank you for the introduction to Tara! She speaks in real terms and from experience — that is something we all have to honor and appreciate! I particularly loved her explanation about how Alzheimer’s is one of many forms of dementia. I think there is that tendancy to call all dementia related behaviors Alzheimer’s and that is not always the case.
I plan to buy her book and of course continuing listening to 2 Boomer Broads! You are amazing!
Thanks so much for your support Ruth. We had no idea that Alzheimer’s was a different form of dementia either. We thought it was a separate disease. The show was very informative on many levels.
Ruth –
I think you are right – because Alzheimer’s accounts for 60-80% of dementia and the Alzheimer’s Association is doing a great job raising awareness, many people use the two words interchangeably. But there are definite differences in how the journey plays out…
My father had Alzheimer’s so I have been up close and personal with this. It’s…daunting.
Yes, Carol,
It’s a difficult disease to have to deal with when you are taking care of a family member or friend. Exhausting sometimes.
Daunting only begins to describe it but is a great place to start – as you know. Sorry about your dad.
I’ve only recently learned that there is a difference between Dementia and Alzheimers and I’m sure I’m not alone there. Thanks for the informative article and podcast. I’m sharing on my Sizzling Towards Sixty FB page.
Thanks so much Sue and especially thanks for sharing on your FB page.So many people are affected by it in one way or another.
Thank you for sharing Tara with us. Great information! I’ve wondered where the line is between dementia and Alzheimer’s. I recently read that the sense of smell is a great indicator when Alzheimer’s is present (weird, I know) and having someone smell peanut butter without looking is a simple test. If they can’t tell you what it is, time to see a doctor. Unsure if true or not, but I did try it on my husband. He detected peanut butter…. thankfully.
Thanks Lisa, That’s interesting to know about the sense of smell and how it is an indicator of Alzheimers. We hadn’t heard that before.
Lisa – Not sure how accurate that smell test is – I think there are new studies and “indicators” every day! I see that as a great thing because people are trying to figure it out! Some are just nuts and I think do a disservice – giving false hope to desperate people – have you heard the “drink 3 glasses of Champagne to decrease your chances of dementia”? Went viral – very small study… that one bothers me.
Glad your husband checked out ok on the peanut butter sniff test! (Won’t it be amazing if further tests confirm that is an actual indicator???)
So much great information here. I’m going to share this with some friends going through some challenges with parents – it’s an important resource for too many midlifers.
Thanks for offering to share it with friends. So many people have to deal with it and the more info they can get, the better.
Lois –
Thank you for sharing and YES – it’s important, and often looked at too late to make any significant difference.