Early-onset dementia is a rare form of the disorder where the onset of the cognitive symptoms begins before the age of 65. It has been estimated that less than 5 percent of all those who have a dementia diagnosis fall into this category. Most who are diagnosed are in their 50s, although there have been documented cases of people in their 30s and 40s with the disease.

Early-onset dementia has a unique set problems: Those receiving the diagnosis at a younger age are often still in careers, have younger children, and can have difficulty finding support services for which they are eligible. In order to maximize a person’s ability to participate in normal daily activities, as well as take full advantage of the treatments available, early identification remains a priority.

Obtaining an accurate diagnosis of the disease, however, can be challenging. Many health care professionals consider dementia to be exclusive to older adults, and therefore the signs and symptoms of the early-onset variant are often misdiagnosed. Further complicating the matter is that the symptoms of early-onset dementia can vary, with memory loss not always being the most notable symptom initially. Personality changes, altered judgment, difficulty with problem-solving, or increased confusion in familiar tasks are only a few examples of the cognitive changes that can be observed.

When she made her diagnosis public, Coach Summit voiced her determination to continue coaching and to fight the disease. In doing so, she has given countless others with the disease a reason to fight.

It is worth noting that Coach Summit spoke clearly about her intention to use her support system to help cope with the challenges ahead. The importance of having the support of friends and loved ones cannot be overstated. Understanding that you are not alone and that support is available is often the first step to healthy coping.

If you have concerns about your cognitive health, or that of a loved one, it is important to talk to a physician or mental health professional who specializes in these types of medical issues. The only way to determine whether memory changes are related to normal aging, or possibly a more serious condition, is to be evaluated. Psychologists offer a number of tests that can help identify dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

For more information, please visit any of the other blog entries on aging, or view the helpful information on websites for the Alzheimer’s Association and the Mayo Clinic.

Photos by aaronisnotcool and Tennessee Journalist (via Flickr)

In an ongoing effort to improve public awareness on this issue, several groups have joined together to promote National Senior Health and Fitness Day. This event helps keep older adults healthy and fit by encouraging more active lifestyles. Fitness for older adults does not have to be physically demanding or complicated, and the benefits from these types of activities can be far-reaching.

There are several websites that can help you take the first steps in establishing a healthier lifestyle. The National Institute on Aging offers information on the psychological and physical benefits of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention outlines several ways to incorporate exercise into your daily schedule.

And please remember, any change that promotes a healthier lifestyle is a good one.

Photo by Krxtopher (via Flickr)

So much energy and anticipation is involved in the holidays that it is not unusual to experience a small letdown after the celebrations are over. There are ways, however, to move into the new year with a clear conscious and a fresh outlook. With that in mind, here are a few of my favorite remedies for beating the post-holiday blues.

• Give yourself time to relax and recuperate. Sometimes it can be helpful to set aside time during the day that is devoted to nothing but your own mental health. Taking a short walk, spending a few minutes reflecting on positive memories, or simply closing your eyes and collecting your thoughts are all activities that can facilitate a sense of calm and peacefulness.
• Take time to reflect on and review the holidays. As mentioned before, the holidays can often be a blur, so taking a few moments to review what you are truly thankful for can be a helpful way of gaining some closure on the past year and moving on to a new one. 
• Don’t dwell on what went wrong during the holidays. No holiday season will be flawless, and if you are expecting perfection, chances are you will be disappointed. I encourage people to try to take things like a lopsided Christmas tree, a burned turkey or a dropped plate full of food in stride and realize that these are the memories that will probably stick with us, whether we like it or not. So, oftentimes our best option is to try to practice resilience and flexibility and make the most out of whatever situation has occurred while moving forward.
• Try to get back on a regular schedule. So often during the holidays we change what we eat, how much we sleep, and our regular daily schedule. Getting back into a normal routine can be comforting and help to ease some of the tension and uncertainty that comes from the hustle and bustle of the holidays.
• If you make a New Year’s resolution, don’t worry too much if you have a setback. Most people fail to keep up with New Year’s resolutions. If there are things you would like to change about your day-to-day life, remember that these will take time. It is acceptable to go slow and start small. Lifestyle changes are major adjustments, and taking a long-term view on implementing these choices can help relieve some of the pressure we often place on ourselves to make changes too quickly.

The American Psychological Association also has a number of helpful resources that can provide more information on these topics. There is information on ways to manage depression, tips for healthy stress management, and how to tell if your holiday blues might be something more serious, like depression.

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For the past week, psychologists writing for this blog have talked about the 2010 Stress in America survey, which provides a glimpse into how different groups experience stress and how demographic variables impact stress, as well as the various coping strategies applied to manage stressors. The survey provides a wealth of information on various groups and factors, and there are several points regarding older adults and stress that should be pointed out.

Older adults reported generally lower levels of stress when compared to other age groups. This is not necessarily new and there have been a number of theories as to why this is the case. One of the more popular ones is the belief that older adults are simply more experienced at handling stress. It seems inevitable that over the course of a long life, there will be certain emotional highs and lows. thus, older adults seem to have a unique perspective. They can view stressors within a context of other experiences they have encountered over time.

This often produces a certain level of resilience that is highlighted by the deeper understanding that stressors are usually temporary, and “this too shall pass”.

The economy remains a prominent stressor for older adults. The older-age group cited money (62 percent ) and the economy (69 percent) as greater areas of concern than personal (57 percent) and family health issues (59 percent). This seems to highlight the fact that concerns about financial well-being during retirement persist, despite reports that the economy is on the mend. Many older adults continue to struggle with the financial aspects of growing older, and an increasing number are altering their retirement budget to compensate for the difficult economic times.

Older adults are using a wide range of coping strategies to help them deal with stress. This is positive news! Some of the most popular methods reported included exercise (48 percent), reading (56 percent), prayer (44 percent), and spending time with family and friends (44 percent). Equally important was the low number of older adults who endorsed unhealthy coping habits such as drinking alcohol (8 percent) or eating (18 percent) as a way to handle stress.

The American Psychological Association has more tip sheets on the topic of healthy stress management in older adults (opens as a PDF).

Photo by supacrush (via flickr)

Memory loss has long been identified as a normal part of aging. The expected changes that occur as we grow older are often minor and do not have a negative impact on our ability to carry out daily activities. Misplacing one’s car keys, difficulty remembering names or forgetting to pay a bill are a few examples of the more common slippages.

But more serious changes, and especially those that interfere with day-to-day functioning, can be an early sign that something is not right. Difficulties with planning or problem solving, confusion with time or place, decreased or poor judgment, and changes in mood or personality should be a cause for concern.

It is not unusual for older adults to have some reluctance about being tested memory issues. They hide the symptoms because they do not want to worry loved ones. Others avoid a memory assessment for fear that the findings will be negative and result in a diagnosis of dementia. These fears are easily understood because dementia is such a dreaded disease that impacts not only the older adult, but the entire family as well.

But early screening for memory problems still has several notable benefits. Cognitive changes can be due to any number of issues including medication side effects, emotional stress or underlying medical problems.

Early identification of the problems can lead to an earlier treatment of whatever is responsible for the changes, such as medication side effects or stress. Even if the concerns lead to a more serious condition, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s, early diagnosis of the disease can lead to improved benefits from medical and behavioral treatments.

Although there is no cure for dementia, the medications available can slow the progression of the disease and extend someone’s current cognitive abilities. Another benefit of early screening is that it provides the older adult, as well as the family, an opportunity to fully discuss available options. There’s a lot to consider: choosing the right care team, planning for financial issues, and identifying appropriate community resources, for example. Any of these can help all involved prepare for whatever might be in the future.

If you have concerns about your cognitive health, or that of a loved one, it is important to talk to a physican or mental health professional specializing in memory or older adults.  The only way to determine whether memory changes are related to normal aging, or possibly a more serious condition, is to be tested.

Photo by Bamboo Senior Health (via Flickr)