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Aging & Memory

Dementia/Alzheimer’s

Dr. G has had two years of specialized training working with organic disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.  For the past 15 years he has assisted those who have mild to moderate organic impairment.  Common areas in need of assistance include:  confusion, memory, organization, recognition, executive functioning, thought disorder, emotional control, and resulting depression.  Also provide support and specific recommendations and tools to family members and care-takers to improve the level of care for loved ones. 

Cognitive therapy — includes interventions that are designed to directly or indirectly protect cognitive skills. Evidence shows that patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or most types of dementia (Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, etc.) who regularly engage in cognitive therapy perform better in thinking, reasoning, attention, memory, and other cognitive skills. 

Cognitive rehabilitation can help with memory, attention, and concentration, which in turn leads to a better quality of life. 

In general terms, the benefits of cognitive rehabilitation include: 

  • Improved ability to carry out daily tasks 
  • Improved word recall
  • Improved attention
  • Slowed memory loss
  • Improved quality of life for both patient and care-taker
  • Decreased anxiety and depression

There is some evidence to support that cognitive training can produce these positive results because it changes patterns of neural activity in the brain of dementia patients. This means the brains of these patients remain highly plastic and capable of responding to cognitive therapy.

Cognitive training can: 

  • Improve memory and recall 
  • Improve verbal fluency and communication with others 
  • Improve processing speed and executive function 
  • Improve mood 
  • Reduce the incidence of depression symptoms 

CBT in combination with reality orientation can help cognitive function in dementia patients, especially if combined with medication,  After therapy, patients experience improvements in word recall, memory,  sleep quality, and attention while showing fewer signs of depression. 

Overall, CBT with reality orientation therapy helps patients by:

  • Improving cognitive skills 
  • Improving communication skills, such as word recall and naming objects 
  • Improving memory and attention 
  • Improving quality of life for the patient and the caregiver
  • Improving ADLs
  • Reducing signs of depression  
  • Improving sleep
  • Delaying the need to go into a nursing home

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI):

As a result of TBI, cognitive (e.g., deficits in attention, memory, and executive function) and behavioral (e.g., aggression, poor impulse control, irritability, anhedonia, or apathy) symptoms may occur and psychiatric/affective disorders may initiate or worsen. Beyond neuropsychological assessment, psychologists have also worked intensively on the design, implementation, and testing of post-TBI interventions. Psychology has aided in the cognitive rehabilitation of TBI patients, as well as in helping them to manage the emotional impact of this condition through psychotherapy.  

Once a TBI patient is physically stable, subsequent cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and social difficulties may manifest, hindering engagement with treatment and daily activities. Managing these challenges requires a comprehensive neuropsychological treatment approach. As the most widely used psychotherapeutic approach, CBT is built on the assumption that cognitions (i.e., thoughts) strongly affect behaviors, but, through awareness, can be quantified and controlled. In other words, a person can attain behavioral changes through acknowledgment and control of preceding cognitions. Application of CBT for TBI patients has been aimed at reducing anger, depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms and at improving coping, with promising results. Psychotherapy with TBI patients can be challenging and frustrating at times but is worth attempting since it can be very rewarding for both the survivor and therapist.

Cognitive training – also called brain training, retraining, or remediation – involves practicing a set of standardized tasks. These tasks are designed to improve specific cognitive skills, such as attention, memory, and problem-solving. They often involve activities and games that mimc activities of daily living. Ideally, tasks need to be tailored to the patient’s abilities and change as needed. Patients can access many programs online which work like video games, but there are pen and paper options which can be facilitated by family members or a therapist. 

Memory

Below are 9 memory techniques for retaining information and improving recall memory performance.

Organize Information

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Start by outlining the information you will need to recall. Create a detailed and organized outline of the information to highlight and focus on important concepts. A useful organization strategy is the chunking method, which breaks down large amounts of information into smaller, logical units that are easy to understand. For example, when learning a foreign language, list vocabulary words in functional groups such as household items, animals and occupations. Chunking is one of the most valuable tools among memory recall techniques.

Associations

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Creating associations by drawing on existing knowledge is another one of our memory techniques. You can form mental images and connect with sounds, smells and tastes to help encode memories. The Baker/baker paradox tells us that if two individuals are to remember that someone’s last name is Baker, they are much more likely to do so if they picture the person as a professional baker (i.e., Mr. Baker wearing a chef’s hat). This is why developing a story is a powerful tool to improve long-term memory. For example, if you want to remember that a client’s name is Jack, you might picture him walking to “fetch a pale of water” as in Jack and Jill.

Visual Cues

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Using visual tools such as concept maps, graphs, illustrations and photos can benefit learning. Graphs and charts also simplify information, making it easier to comprehend and recall.  This recall memory method can benefit visual learners, or individuals who better conceptualize information they can see.8 It’s also a valuable technique for presenters who can use visuals in their slide deck as retrieval cues.

Mnemonics

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Using mnemonic devices, such as acronyms, acrostics and rhymes, is a good way for improving long-term memory. For example, do you remember when Columbus landed in America? You likely do if you ever learned the rhyme, “In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” If you need to remember a series of numbers for work, consider a creative rhyme.  For more visual learners, another mnemonic device you can use is building a memory palace. A memory palace is an imaginary place (such as a house or a familiar venue) where you store mnemonic images. The idea behind memory techniques like this is you take a journey in your mind to recall the information.

Write it Down

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It turns out that some things are better the old-fashioned way. Researchers have found that writing down information by hand is more effective than typing for learning concepts. As it takes longer to write by hand, you are naturally forced to be more selective with what you write and focus only on the key information.  As far as memory strategies go, less is more when it comes to notetaking.

Say It Out Loud

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When you need to remember new information, one of the more helpful approaches to improving long-term memory is to read it aloud. One study determined that the dual action of speaking and hearing ourselves talk helps get words and phrases into long-term memory.11 Memory benefits from active involvement.

Engage in Active Recall

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Testing yourself forces you to activate your recall memory processes. Flashcards are a great way to self-test. Studies show that retrieval practice can enhance recollection rather than simply restudying materials.12

Rehearse

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Practice does make perfect when it comes to memory strategies. Rehearse information repetitively, either by writing it down or reading it aloud.

Brain Games

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Regularly engaging in cross word puzzles, brain teasers, word find puzzles etc. are a great way to exercise the brain and improve word finding ability and recall. Studies suggest that spaced repetition—spacing out learning over a period of time—is a more effective way to memorize information than trying to cram a lot of information into your brain over a short period of time.