Goulburn members brush up on brain health
02 Jun 2014
Members of the Probus Club of Goulburn and District Inc received a reminder of the importance of brain health at their May meeting.
Pictured: AlzNSW Dementia Adviser Jane Bushell with Probus Club of Goulburn and District Inc member Neal Parks.
Having trouble remembering where you have put the car keys? Or, you can’t think where your mobile phone is? It came as a great relief to members of the Probus Club of Goulburn and District when Jane Bushell, Alzheimer's Australia NSW's Dementia Adviser for Goulburn, Upper Lachlan and Wingecarribee, addressed their meeting. According to Jane, some forgetfulness happens to all of us.
Some memory loss can be put down to the fact that as we age, there is a great deal more for us to remember. If memory loss is a problem, seeking help is very important. While it could be caused by treatable factors such as vitamin and hormone deficiencies, depression, medication effects, infections and brain tumours, it could also be caused by dementia, and early treamtent can help.
What then is dementia? Jane explained that dementia is a general term to describe problems with progressive changes in memory and thinking. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. Dementia can happen to anybody, but it becomes more common over the age of 65, and especially over the age of 75.
Early signs of dementia can be very subtle and vague, and may not be immediately obvious. Some common symptoms may include:
- Progressive and frequent memory loss
- Confusion
- Personality change
- Apathy and withdrawal
- Loss of ability to perform everyday tasks
Dementia is the third leading cause of death, Jane told members. It is essential that a medical diagnosis is obtained at an early stage when symptoms first appear to ensure that a person who has a treatable condition is diagnosed and treated correctly. If the symptoms are caused by dementia, an early diagnosis will mean early access to support, information and medication.
There are three key areas to help you live a brain healthy life, explained Jane: brain, body and heart.
- Keep your brain challenged and be socially active.
- Be fit and healthy by eating healthily and participating in regular physical activity.
- What’s good for the heart is good for the brain. Don’t smoke, and manage your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and body weight.
Also at the meeting, the club's usually time-precise member Don Elder presented the five-minute Thumbnail Sketch in 4 minutes 36 seconds, which of course should mean someone else can take 5 minutes 24 seconds should it be required.
Pictured: AlzNSW Dementia Adviser Jane Bushell with Probus Club of Goulburn and District Inc member Neal Parks.
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