topic Re: memory in Community Chat

memory

crazered — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 21:12:27 GMT

Do any of you take any over the counter meds for helping your memory? If so, could you share?

Re: memory

tobes — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 21:20:18 GMT

@crazered I can't remember

Re: memory

suzyQ3 — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 21:37:17 GMT

@tobes, with the disclaimer that I am very skeptical when it comes to supplements beyond a multivitamin, calcium. and Vit D (the last recommended by my physician), I would not trust that these over-the-counter memory products will do anything more than set you back whatever they cost. It's yet another advertisement aimed at baby boomers.

If there were truly a product that helped with memory, it would have had headlines and a celebratory parade.

Of course, others will say that it works for them. IMO, the placebo effect can be very strong.

Re: memory

germanshepherdlove — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 22:00:12 GMT

@crazered wrote:
Do any of you take any over the counter meds for helping your memory? If so, could you share?

@crazered

Your question is a very good one and one you should ask a doctor such as a neurologist. Good luck and I know your questions can be answered by that speciality.

Re: memory

AKgirl2 — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 22:33:21 GMT

@tobes wrote:
@crazered I can't remember

@Tobes ~ I just busted out laughing. Thanks, I needed that! 😂👏🏻

Re: memory

Mz iMac — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 22:33:56 GMT

@tobes

@crazered Play "brain" games either on the net and/or purchase "brain game" books.

Do word puzzles.

Anything to keep your brain occupied while awake.

Re: memory

ahoymate — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 22:36:26 GMT

This is a big one for the pharma companies & Alzheimer's patients. Nothing yet.

Re: memory

willdob3 — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 22:41:41 GMT

@crazered

I recommend that you start first with looking at your diet, sleep, and stress level. Those things, if not good, will trump any supplement. I speak from experience.

Re: memory

Still Raining — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 22:42:17 GMT

If there is an actual reason to be concerned, check your weight, diet and exercise. Then have a general medical tuneup. Only then should you be tested. They will probably do depression too.

Or just sit back with all us oldies and enjoy the peace. It can be a handy excuse.

Re: memory

LindaSal — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 14:09:53 GMT

You have to be cautious what you are putting into your body. Also the fact that some of these supplements can cause harm if mixed with other supplements and/or medications.

Yes, best to speak with your physician. Be well.

Re: memory

wonderfulworld — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 18:59:18 GMT

If thyroid, B-12, and D levels are all normal, my husband's dr. recommend Turmeric. The rest he said were expensive and worthless. Cannot attest to how or if it works.

Re: memory

shoptilyadropagain — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 19:25:35 GMT

Many years ago we had a pt-timer in the office who was into all these special supplements for various things. She ordered most everything online. One of the things she ordered was a memory powder (it must have come in powder form rather than a tablet or capsule). WITHOUT FAIL, every single afternoon on the days she worked, she would burst out in a panic and say......"OH NO.....I forgot to take my memory powder". She always wanted to take it before lunch.

I didn't roll my eyes at her but I'm sure the expression on my face was the same as. I wanted to scream out...."Well, it's not doing any good, is it?".

Unfortunately, she passed away last year. She really was a very sweet person though and once you met her, you never forgot her (no pun intended) and left you a better person for knowing her.

Re: memory

SeaMaiden — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 19:37:37 GMT

I take PS ( phosphateidyserine) and PQQ. Have been for many years.

Re: memory

patbz — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 19:53:05 GMT

I agree that memory supplements don't do much. It's better to do cross word puzzles, learn a language or read a book; engaging your brain, making it work is what will help.

Re: memory

chickenbutt — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 20:17:17 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
@tobes

@crazered Play "brain" games either on the net and/or purchase "brain game" books.

Do word puzzles.

Anything to keep your brain occupied while awake.

This is kind of like some of the stuff I do. I had such a great memory and now that it's deteriorating and my retention ability is also all but gone, I started in working every day on things like focus and memory. I do fairly simple exercises that just come to me and seem like good ideas. I think it makes a difference.

When I first noticed I was having some problems with cognitive breaks and memory/retention challenges it was alarming. I would forget things like where I was and how to do simple things like how I open a door. I know it sounds silly but it's disconcerting and you end up just standing there waiting until the data returns to your conscious thought. I forgot how to do numerous completely basic things like opening a door or using a can opener. It's really odd. You stand there looking at it and have no idea what to do.

Since I really focus on, well FOCUS, I am not having nearly as many episodes of those basic things like forgetting how to do simple things or not being able to relate to my surroundings. It hasn't taken me to a place anywhere near where I was when I used to be smart and have a crazy good memory but I think it helps.

One old parlor trick I had, as an example of my former cognitive abilities, was that you could take any book and open it up, hand it to me opened to whatever page you want, and I look at it for a quick moment. Then you take the book back and I could read the two pages off to you from what my brain collected. Now - I could never do anything remotely close to that.

I also have developed a frustrating inability to remember basic words. That is probably one of the most exasperating part of it. Sometimes here, or other boards where I hang out, I go to type a post and get stuck for some of the most basic words. I'm getting to the point that I want to communicate with others less and less because it's embarrassing to feel like I'm getting stupid.

Re: memory

tends2dogs — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 20:24:06 GMT

@SeaMaiden wrote:
I take PS ( phosphateidyserine) and PQQ. Have been for many years.

I also take PS and have for many years. I try to never run out.

Re: memory

Deree — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 20:32:19 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
@tobes

@crazered Play "brain" games either on the net and/or purchase "brain game" books.

Do word puzzles.

Anything to keep your brain occupied while awake.

Absolutely! With so much time on my hands these past 3 months that's exactly what I started to do. I play FB games online. Word games which are extremely challenging and object recall games involving speed. I feel sharper than usual.

And just to add to others talking about diet I have significantly changed mine to an anti-inflammatory diet eliminating gluten, dairy and sugar and have to say I feel so much better. Also knowing that my Vitamin D level was low normal a couple of years ago I increased that too. IMO vitamin D is the most important vitamin/supplement one can take.

Re: memory

tends2dogs — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 20:34:53 GMT

@chickenbutt wrote:
@Mz iMac wrote:
@tobes

@crazered Play "brain" games either on the net and/or purchase "brain game" books.

Do word puzzles.

Anything to keep your brain occupied while awake.

This is kind of like some of the stuff I do. I had such a great memory and now that it's deteriorating and my retention ability is also all but gone, I started in working every day on things like focus and memory. I do fairly simple exercises that just come to me and seem like good ideas. I think it makes a difference.

When I first noticed I was having some problems with cognitive breaks and memory/retention challenges it was alarming. I would forget things like where I was and how to do simple things like how I open a door. I know it sounds silly but it's disconcerting and you end up just standing there waiting until the data returns to your conscious thought. I forgot how to do numerous completely basic things like opening a door or using a can opener. It's really odd. You stand there looking at it and have no idea what to do.

Since I really focus on, well FOCUS, I am not having nearly as many episodes of those basic things like forgetting how to do simple things or not being able to relate to my surroundings. It hasn't taken me to a place anywhere near where I was when I used to be smart and have a crazy good memory but I think it helps.

One old parlor trick I had, as an example of my former cognitive abilities, was that you could take any book and open it up, hand it to me opened to whatever page you want, and I look at it for a quick moment. Then you take the book back and I could read the two pages off to you from what my brain collected. Now - I could never do anything remotely close to that.

I also have developed a frustrating inability to remember basic words. That is probably one of the most exasperating part of it. Sometimes here, or other boards where I hang out, I go to type a post and get stuck for some of the most basic words. I'm getting to the point that I want to communicate with others less and less because it's embarrassing to feel like I'm getting stupid.

@chickenbutt Have you shared this with your doctor? Your symptoms have nothing to do with being stupid. Focusing on words and tasks are good exercises, but finding out why this is happening might be a good idea. I am not trying to tell you what to do. God knows I have having people tell me what to do , but you have always come across as a kind and caring poster and I would hate to see something go undiagnosed that might have been turned around for you. Okay if you tell me to MMOB.

Re: memory

chickenbutt — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 20:45:15 GMT

@tends2dogs wrote:
@chickenbutt wrote:
@Mz iMac wrote:
@tobes

@crazered Play "brain" games either on the net and/or purchase "brain game" books.

Do word puzzles.

Anything to keep your brain occupied while awake.

This is kind of like some of the stuff I do. I had such a great memory and now that it's deteriorating and my retention ability is also all but gone, I started in working every day on things like focus and memory. I do fairly simple exercises that just come to me and seem like good ideas. I think it makes a difference.

When I first noticed I was having some problems with cognitive breaks and memory/retention challenges it was alarming. I would forget things like where I was and how to do simple things like how I open a door. I know it sounds silly but it's disconcerting and you end up just standing there waiting until the data returns to your conscious thought. I forgot how to do numerous completely basic things like opening a door or using a can opener. It's really odd. You stand there looking at it and have no idea what to do.

Since I really focus on, well FOCUS, I am not having nearly as many episodes of those basic things like forgetting how to do simple things or not being able to relate to my surroundings. It hasn't taken me to a place anywhere near where I was when I used to be smart and have a crazy good memory but I think it helps.

One old parlor trick I had, as an example of my former cognitive abilities, was that you could take any book and open it up, hand it to me opened to whatever page you want, and I look at it for a quick moment. Then you take the book back and I could read the two pages off to you from what my brain collected. Now - I could never do anything remotely close to that.

I also have developed a frustrating inability to remember basic words. That is probably one of the most exasperating part of it. Sometimes here, or other boards where I hang out, I go to type a post and get stuck for some of the most basic words. I'm getting to the point that I want to communicate with others less and less because it's embarrassing to feel like I'm getting stupid.
@chickenbutt Have you shared this with your doctor? Your symptoms have nothing to do with being stupid. Focusing on words and tasks are good exercises, but finding out why this is happening might be a good idea. I am not trying to tell you what to do. God knows I have having people tell me what to do , but you have always come across as a kind and caring poster and I would hate to see something go undiagnosed that might have been turned around for you. Okay if you tell me to MMOB.

No problem at all. I am not thin-skinned, and I take what people say based on their intent. Your intent seems to be very kind and caring, and I appreciate that.

I don't have a doctor, so I have not dealt with any of it on that level. I mostly figure it's just the way it's going to go as I age. I just don't think I ever expected it to start around age 60. One of the first episodes that freaked me out was a time I was driving to the husband's office where we would walk the 2-3 blocks to the accountant's office for our annual meeting/taxes.

I got in my car and took off but before I got a block away I could not, for the life of me, remember where to go. I'd been going there for some 25 years, so it was not something new or complicated. I just got off the road until the info came back and went on. But I was shaken a bit. So far, I get most of the missing info back if I just wait it out. Mostly it's words that elude me for longer periods but functions beyond that seem to come back in moments, most of the time. So far, so good I guess.

Re: memory

tends2dogs — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 19:11:31 GMT

@SeaMaiden wrote:
I take PS ( phosphateidyserine) and PQQ. Have been for many years.

@SeaMaiden May I ask what brand and dose you take of the PS? I am unable to get the one I have taken for years from Vitacost. I had tried adding PQQ to the mix, but saw no added benefit for me. I take so many supplements that I eliminate what isn't in the plus column......if you know what I mean.