Rethinking Memory Loss and Dementia

Our brains don't always work perfectly. Forgetting a neighbor's name or struggling to find the right word can feel unsettling-as if our minds are failing.

But Dr. Aaron Ritter, Larkin Family Endowed Chair in Integrative Brain Health and Director of the Memory & Cognitive Disorders Program at Hoag's Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute, explains that these small "blips" are usually harmless.

They are not signs of dementia. Instead, they often result from things like lack of sleep, vitamin imbalance, pain, stress, anxiety, depression, or simply normal aging.

Dr. Ritter refers to them as "little brain inefficiencies."

He compares the brain to a computer. Just as a computer has limited bandwidth, so does the brain. That's why a forgotten word or name might return once we are rested, relaxed, or in a less stressful situation like taking a shower or driving a well-known route.

What is the difference between dementia and normal forgetfulness?

Unlike normal memory lapses, dementia causes ongoing problems with memory and thinking that affect daily life. Most forms of dementia first impact learning and short-term memory. This is why many patients with dementia don't recognize or may deny their own memory loss.

According to Dr. Ritter, a common finding is that patients affected by dementia "don't remember that they don't remember."

Is dementia a metabolic disease?

Dr. Ritter suggests that dementia may best be understood as a problem of brain metabolism.

Metabolism is how the brain turns food into energy and materials it needs to function. In dementia, key brain cells gradually lose this ability, leading to common symptoms that accompany dementia including fatigue, weight loss, irritability, and loss of interest in hobbies or exercise.

For family members, it can feel as though their loved one's brain is slowly dimming.

Doctors can now detect these changes with metabolic PET scans, which measure how healthy the brain's metabolism is. These scans are valuable for distinguishing dementia from normal aging.

Who is most at risk for dementia?

While about 70% of dementia risk is genetic, the other 30% is influenced by factors within a person's control. This means lifestyle choices can play a role in prevention. According to Dr. Ritter, a common thread among factors like sleep, exercise and nutrition is that they aid in activating the brain's metabolic functioning.

How can I prevent dementia?

Dr. Ritter points to four important steps that can reduce dementia risk:

1. Exercise - Aim for about 150 minutes per week of heart-pumping activity. Exercise is the only reliable way to increase blood flow and the best way to release growth factors that stimulate brain growth and repair, Dr. Ritter says.
2. Eat well - Nutritious foods support brain metabolism, while processed foods can strain it, Dr. Ritter says. Consuming "clean foods," particularly green leafy vegetables, provides vitamins that are crucial for metabolic functioning.
3. Sleep - Six to eight hours of quality rest helps the brain reset and repair. Sleep is the primary time the brain repairs itself. Even one bad night of sleep can cause a dramatic rise in waste the brain is left to clean up, Dr. Ritter says.
4. Reduce stress - Chronic stress disrupts metabolism. Activities like socializing, meditation, or hobbies can help reduce cortisol, a key stress hormone.

"Laugh at least once a day. And if you haven't, do something that makes you," Dr. Ritter recommends.

Learn more about Hoag's memory and cognitive disorders program.