Tag: dementia

“Andropause Mystery: Unraveling Truths about the Male Menopause”, the enlightenment

“Andropause Mystery: Unraveling Truths about the Male Menopause”, the enlightenment of men’s predicament on aging

Andropause is a stage in man’s life when there is a noticeable declination in his hormones. This usually occurs at the late 40’s or early 50’s. The declination of hormonal production extends until the eighties. During this period, physical, emotional, psychological and behavioral manifestations due to declination of hormones become more visible.

Dr. Robert S. Tan, a renowned geriatrician conducted a study about male andropause which he compacted in his book “The Andropause Mystery: Unraveling Truths about the Male Menopause”. The book deals with the physical changes and psychological challenges met by andropausal men. It serves as an eye opener on how to treat such a dilemma.

Andropause symptoms vary from one person to another. It is generally affected by the health condition. However, in the study of Dr. Robert Tan, some men between fifty to seventy years old reported the following symptoms: erectile dysfunction, tiredness, sudden mood sways, night sweats and occasional palpitations.

Aside from the physical changes, psychological changes that challenged their masculinity are augmented during the andropausal years. A man, no matter what age he is, tends to struggle to prove his strong sexuality, composed emotions, intellectual mind, supreme courage, good productivity, and strong personality, character and behavior.

But what happens when he’s in the andropausal years?

The testosterone level of a young man at the age of 15-30 is 1000ng/dl. When he reaches the andopausal stage, an alarming drop of up to 800ng/dl causes the many predicaments in his life.

Dr R. Tan observed that the decrease of testosterone makes andropausal men likely to be more in touch with their feminine side. They become more involved in domestic issues which they use to ignore. They are more attentive to their roles at home such as cooking, house keeping and bonding with their children. They devote much time now for the family and pleasure rather than their business roles. In a sense, the decrease of testosterone level makes them gentler and more domesticated.

On the mental side, judgment becomes less sharp than they used to be during a man’s early age. He loses his accuracy and sharp mind. On some cases, there are reports of impaired memory which can lead to dementia.

The andropausal years can be directed to the question of courage. Men who are in this condition has the tendency to become more conservative and less of a risk taker. Fear can easily stun them. While some men fear death, most andropausal men fear to be too dependent.

The next attack hits the pride of being productive. As a common knowledge, men ought to be dynamic, to be noticed for his achievements and efforts. The source of man’s happiness can be rooted on being the firm foundation of the family. When he reaches the andropausal period, he feels his inability to support his family as well as to manage complex business.

Personality is not a constant thing. Especially for men who are in their andropausal years, they are more susceptible to trimming down their being impulsive, hyperactive and ambitious. Through the passing of time, male menopause has begun to be accepted as part of aging.

But with the help of medical science, there are useful strategies formulated to cope up with the changes brought about by andropause. Careful supervision of a trained physician is though advisable.

Exercise Can Act As A Memory Booster

Doctors are working to determine the benefits of exercise regiments benefits in improving cognition and reducing normal memory loss so that specific exercises can be assigned to improve memory. Adding to the long list of benefits that exercise provides to overall health and giving more reasons to get off of the couch and get active. Studies are now showing that physical activity reduces stress and anxiety disorders that contribute to many cognitive malfunctioning attributes as well as providing evidence that exercise may prevent or delay dementia. This is great news for the many people who want to preserve their mental clarity as they reach older ages.

Cognitive benefits of physical exercise for children and adults is not as clear as the benefits of exercise on the aging but it is a start in the search for finding answers to the question why do people forget things. The studies indicate that exercises will ameliorate the effects of aging on the brain reducing a normal age-related decline in cognitive functioning. Cognitive functions such as planning, organization and working memory are achieved through simple measure such as increased confidence in abilities with older adults and with younger adults in the same way. So if you have been feeling forgetful or slow to process simple things, it could be that you are not getting enough exercise.

Physical activity is a catalyst to increasing and maintaining proper mental processes. Therefore it can be said that some lifestyle changes may improve cognitive functioning. Studies indicate evidence that a healthy brain diet including foods rich in omega-3 fats, antioxidants, and low glycemic carbohydrates (whole grains), daily walks, relaxation exercises and mental exercises like crossword puzzles result in brain metabolism suggesting an increase in efficiency. Reducing blood pressure, weight and cholesterol and not smoking is important for brain health in all ethnic backgrounds. Even though countless studies make these suggestions it has not been established enough to recommend specific regimens for the desired results. Increasing brain cognitive functioning can be maintained throughout a persons life by simply living life to the fullest and by continually learning new things. While depressed moods, anxiety, and other psychological illnesses can be associated with both poor emotional and cognitive health as well, exercise is the determining factor in most improved cases.

For older adults mental stimulation is important in preventing age related cognitive declining. Regular light exercises for the elderly such as brisk walks, swimming, and other full body exercises will help to maintain the mental performance, stamina, endurance allowing for better memory and all over mental functioning and less cognitive decline. Improved blood flow to the brain will undoubtedly provide amazing benefits and prevent mental deterioration by stimulating the growth of nerve cells in the region of the brain that handles memory functioning. However conclusive the studies may seem different methodologies make it extremely difficult to make any conclusive determinations in the relationship between exercise and mental fitness. It is conclusive that regular exercise is the best treatment for improvement in overall health and maintaining overall health.

So get up, stay busy, and learn something new always for good mental fitness. Many people say that they would like to get started with exercising, but they dont have any opportunities to do so. The truth is that almost anything can be made into an exercise. Exercise is something that comes as a part of daily life, not something that you have to seek out. So, start getting in shape by doing the simple things, and then maybe you can progress to more strenuous activities. It could be a good idea to employ the help of a physical trainer who knows the human body very well and can help you to do what needs to be done. With the mental and physical benefits, there is no reason why you should not do so. Get started today.

Tell Tale Signs Of Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder. Its gradual effects on the brain are relentless as a sufferer’s memory is progressively destroyed and along with it, the capability to learn, make judgments, and communicate. The disease will eventually make it difficult for the sufferer to even carry out normal daily tasks to the point of total disappearance of any capability.

It is a very difficult circumstance to be in, to watch a family member seemingly waste away bit by bit. The sufferer’s the struggle to maintain some form of sanity despite the condition is often too much for many relatives to bear that they, sadly, distance themselves from the sufferer instead of giving support.

It really pays to know more about Alzheimer’s and better understand the condition lest you find yourself or a member of your family in this type of situation. Knowing the warning signs early on can help you cope up with the disease earlier where there might still be some chance at minimizing the damaging effects of Alzheimer’s. Knowing what to look for will not only help you but also your friends or loved ones who might also have the odds against them in developing the said debilitating disease.

It is of the utmost important to understand some of the warning signs of Alzheimer’s. While memory loss is reasonable and is an expected symptom of aging, the type of memory loss symptoms of Alzheimer’s are significantly greater and are often accompanied or followed by other tell tale symptoms. People suffering this disease often have difficulty with general cognitive abilities such as communication, thinking, reasoning, comparing, and learning new skills.

Short-term memory is what Alzheimer’s disease usually affects first. Sufferers tend to forget family names and even how to perform simple daily tasks. However, long-term memory is somehow attained with Alzheimer’s disease where some patients may even retain the ability of remembering events from the past.

Another sign shown by patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease is the gradual loss of verbal communication skills. Instead of speaking up, sufferers will begin to communicate their feelings, preferences and needs through body language and facial expressions more frequently. Perception is another area that can be affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

It may be difficult to set up a clear warning sign level as some of the symptoms exhibited by Alzheimer’s sufferers might just be a part of normal behavior. Such symptoms may even be related to another ailment entirely. But when you see such signs being exhibited by someone near to you or someone that you know, you should never be quick to rule out Alzheimer’s as a possible reason. Here are the ten basic warning signs for Alzheimer’s to always look out for:

Gradual loss of memory
Difficulty performing simple everyday tasks
Problems with language
Disorientation
Declining judgment
Inability to perform complex mental tasks
Misplacing certain everyday items
Noticeable behavioral changes
Increased confusion, fear and suspicion
Loss of initiative

As of the present there are no Alzheimer’s treatments that will totally cure, prevent or reverse the onset of the disease or its gradual progression. What doctors can do is try to treat many of the disease symptoms such as loss of memory. The good news is that as new discoveries about the disease are being made, it won’t be long before effective Alzheimer’s treatments will be made available.

Try to consult with a qualified physician in order to help eliminate some symptoms that might look like true Alzheimer’s and to effectively distinguish between the many other causes of dementia, some of which are completely treatable.

What to look out for in Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease is a slow brain disorder the eats away the brain functions little by little. The disease develops completely between seven to 10 years. As it progresses, the disease affects various brain functions like memory, movement, judgment, abstract reasoning and even one’s behavior.

Because of the long development stage of the disease, Alzheimer’s has been categorized into three levels which described its progression. These are mild, moderate and severe. These categories defined the disease from early (mild) to middle (moderate) until the final (severe) stages of the disease.

During the early stages of the disease, the symptoms are less noticeable and are often times left unchecked and considered trivial by family members and even the patient themselves. Among the early and classic signs Alzheimer’s disease is the gradual loss of short-term memory.

At times, they find to be at lost while performing normal activities. Or they might get disoriented and get lost in places that they have been before. Also, at this stage, people afflicted with the disease may experience lapses of judgment and slight changes in personality. Mood swings and personality changes will start to worsen as the disease progress.

Moreover, attention span is reduced because of the presence of the brain disorder. People with Alzheimer’s tend to be less motivated to complete activities or tasks. Furthermore, they become more stubborn and would oppose changes and new challenges set forth before them.

These are the general conditions or symptoms of people with the disease. The symptoms vary from person to person. Moreover, some other symptoms include speech problems, failure to identify or recognize objects, no recalling how to use simple, ordinary things like a pencil, and not remembering to turn off the lights, stove, or even lock doors and windows. As the disease progresses so do the symptoms.

However, if one acquires or notice the presence of some of the symptoms it does not necessarily mean that one has already been afflicted with the disease. Loss of memory for example might be just a normal cause of aging or other normal factors. Memory loss in Alzheimer’s is more frequent.

People with the disease will more frequently forget words or names during conversations. And because they become conscious of their forgetfulness, they tend to avoid conversations and would rather keep quiet in order to avoid mistakes and embarrassments. They will then become withdrawn which can cause a myriad of other problems like depression and anti-social behaviors.

Other things that might happen are the discovery of things in odd places. One might find books inside freezers, clothes in dishwasher and even plates in washing machines. People with Alzheimer’s will ask questions repeatedly up to the point that it becomes irritating. They can be provoked quite easily and can surprisingly flare up in anger.

Even though no cure has yet been discovered or developed for Alzheimer’s, there are ways that have been created to delay the progression of the disease. Earlier symptoms of the disease respond well to various treatments.

Because the rate of progression differs from person to person, severe dementia occurs within five years to a decade after diagnosis. Because of present treatments and medications, some people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s can live more than 10 years after diagnosis. Some even live up to 20 years after the initial diagnosis was made.

It is a fact that most people with Alzheimer’s don’t die of the disease itself, but of infections and other tertiary diseases like pneumonia, or urinary tract infection or complications resulting from concussions.