Share your early symptoms of forgetting: What can help?

Our medical facility offers a monthly Dementia Support Group. It is so helpful regarding all the items you'd like support with, so I hope you can find a group as well.

Dear @hudsonlady

xxx FORGETTING OF REMEMBERING xxx
My brain problems & damage cause I’m a member of TBI people: Now ages for others? really young, teens, 20s, and older people; Hitting the head could be of falling down, accidents, playing football, punching or fighting or shooting, and others. Other folk of 50+ year old may have a stroke, then falling down or driver accident or…

xxx 82yo MAN xxx
What happened to him? Are you sure, he didn’t have a stroke? Or did? As our age for some normal people lose parts in their brain: memory, picking the wrong way, picking wrong words, can’t hear or can’t understand, and others. For me, all the wrong things that I wrote this is all of that when I lose my bicycle accident.

xxx I HOPE xxx
I hope, you can do the best way and be able to meet MAYO great people that helps people like you, me, and others!

Thx,
Greg D. @greg1956

changed a TBI member

Hi @hudsonlady, I added your discussion to the Brain & Nervous System support group and the Aging Well support. I think there will be additional members who will appreciate joining this discussion like @SusanEllen66 @jackchap @heidiruth @walton @johnnoregon @lioness @fromthehill @rosewg and many others.

What tools do you use to help your memory?

I'm glad to be in this group. I am diagnosed MCI without AD. My spouse is very protective. Even though I still like to drive, he does most of the driving and points out my memory slips until I'm finding it difficult to know what is normal and what not. Fortunately we enjoy time together on a beautiful farm and with family, and returning to places we enjoy. And ironically enough, since I used to teach a memory workshop, I can still uses some memory strategies. Still as my memory for names, nouns, and some events worsens, I'm beginning to try establishing a "new normal". Any advice would be welcome.

My symptoms: the usual keys. I always keep them in One Place.
And sometimes feeling foggy-headed on humid days.
What helps?

Here's what I believe -- and do: Physical activity daily and find places to be socially engaged that (hopefully) Also use cognitive part of our brain. I seek out where people talk more than 'listen to expert and then scatter away' only to show they did not have ANY questions to talk With Each Other?
Here's what the 'bible' says:
https://www.alz.org/media/documents/alzheimers-facts-and-figures.pdf
Alzheimer Disease 2024-07-22
Facts and Figures 159 pgs
by Alzheimer’s Association
Modifiable Risk Factors

Social and Cognitive Engagement
Additional studies suggest that remaining socially and cognitively active throughout life may support brain health and possibly reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. 123, 182-190 Socially and cognitively stimulating activity might help build cognitive reserve. (Page 18)

LET'S remember; "However, it is important to note that Alzheimer’s dementia is not a normal part of aging, and older age alone is not sufficient to cause Alzheimer’s dementia. page 14

Most health in life, it seems, is still FREE ... in easy reach.

I hope this helps....keeping calm and not panicking is very helpful...for myself (dyslexic, hard of hearing almost deaf, and a single focused, can only think of one thing at a time person) slowing down and taking time is prime...don't let anyone rush you...I make my own lists of to do each day(I can triage them later....and put events on my calendar when I first hear them...Putting important things in the same place is good....and putting what ever it is on a contrasting surface helps to see them. I have also a mental filing cabinet where I file similar names so that if I get mixed up one will remind of the other(ie Sophia Loren, Sophie Tucker and Sarah Vaugn) or writing down a person's name and address is good..with the phone number carefully(as I tend to turn things upside down etc and backwards) I do not bother to try and have conversations in noisy place....a waste of time. I go to bed with a good book and try get 8hrs of sleep with good dreams. I have a quiet time down in my garden every morning while I feed the wild critters with my first coffee....before I start the day Winter or Summer, Rain or Shine. It helps me connect with what is really important. I try to work on my art every day and do the jobby parts of Life afterwards or while listening to the News(of "fresh disasters") Do not get addicted to the "News". Read everything twice before you email it...and keep a copy. Sorry this has gotten a little long. Take care everyone..Hope this was helpful. Thank you for listening

These comments are so helpful! Just hearing from how others are mastering some of this stuff and living life well is such a relief. Many thanks.
.

Make things simple:

-Make a checklist for food shopping and keep it on the refrigerator. (If possible make a doc. on your computer and print off a few copies at a time.)

-Do one thing at a time (don't multi-task).

-Don't leave little tasks half done. Start something and, if reasonably possible, finish it.

-Make designated places for keys, scissors, flashlight, etc. Design them so that nothing else can go there. The scissors hooks can only hold scissors, the flashlight bracket can only hold the flashlight.

-Write a one page note before a doctor visit. Bullet point each issue you want to address. Make two copies, one for the doctor and one for you. Read it together during the visit.

-Take time to savor your days. Value them and value living deliberately at a modest pace. Take joy in paying attention.

I keep a desk planner next to computer, to record appointments or jot down who calls or who I call. Even tel numbers and names of customer service folks.....and once a year I put in all the birthdays and anniversaries.

I do have a list when I go to the grocery store, but I also alphabetize, or make up a word, to remember the items just in case I leave the list at home. Example: Bananas, apples, walnuts, deoderant (BAWD). Works every time!