Managing Your Memory

All about memory disorders.

Andrew E. Budson M.D.

Why Are Sleep Disturbances So Common in Dementia?

Disrupted sleep cycle and poor sleep hygiene are common reasons why individuals with dementia are up in the middle of the night.

Are They Jealous? Do They Cry or Laugh for No Reason?

Jealousy, binge eating, and abnormal crying and laughing are just a few behaviors that occur in dementia. Here's why.

Why Do People with Dementia Suddenly Become Aggressive?

When the part of the brain that allows for a thoughtful pause between stimulus and response deteriorates, anything can happen.

Why Does Behavior Deteriorate in Dementia?

The new parts of the brain that evolved for social cooperation can break down, leading to problems including depression, anxiety, irritability, and agitation.

Have You Been Replaced by an Imposter?

In dementia, your loved one may not recognize you, may think you are someone else, or may even think you have been replaced by an imposter.

Why Do Hallucinations Occur in Dementia?

Hallucinations, illusions, and false memories can all occur in dementia. Here’s how to tell them apart.

We Are Visual Animals

If seeing is believing, what happens when vision deteriorates due to dementia?

The Importance of Body Language in Dementia

The right temporal lobe interprets emotional and other non-linguistic parts of communication—and this non-verbal communication may be preserved in dementia.

Why Does Language Break Down in Dementia?

The frontal and temporal lobes need to work together for language to function—and both are often impacted by dementia.

Can Someone Forget They Have Dementia?

Sundowning, wandering, shadowing, false memories, and even forgetting that one has memory impairment may all occur as dementia progresses.

How Can Grandma Play Piano When She Can’t Recall My Name?

Learn why riding a bicycle and other habits and procedures are generally preserved in dementia.

The Bark That Never Forgets

The outer layer of the brain helps your grandmother recall events from 50 years ago—even though she cannot remember yesterday.

The Seahorse That Remembers

This small brain structure enables virtually all of our memories—and it is easily damaged by a variety of brain disorders.

Why Frontal Lobe Failure Impairs Memory in Dementia

Dysfunction of the frontal lobes leads to difficulty creating and retrieving memories—and to false memories.

Some Dementias Affect Speech and Language First & Foremost

Trouble talking or understanding speech? It could be Primary Progressive Aphasia.

Is the Dementia Due to Too Much Fluid in the Head?

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus can cause dementia—and it is one of the most treatable memory disorders.

Could Eating Sweets Be a Sign of Dementia?

Eating too many sweets, being inconsiderate, and acting inappropriately can all be signs of frontotemporal dementia.

Visual Hallucinations, Acting Out Dreams, and Shuffling Feet

Is your loved one seeing things that aren’t there? He or she may have dementia with Lewy bodies. There are treatments that can help.

What Is Vascular Dementia?

Strokes can cause dementia. You say your loved one never had a stroke? Some strokes are silent and can only be detected by a brain scan.

Am I at Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease?

Everyone is at risk for Alzheimer’s disease—particularly if you are a woman or have a family history.

Can Alzheimer’s Disease Be Diagnosed During Life?

Previously we had to wait until autopsy to diagnose Alzheimer’s. Now it can be made with 85-95% certainty by a lumbar puncture or amyloid PET scan.

Alzheimer’s Disease: Pathology and Stages

Ever wondered what Alzheimer’s disease looks like in the brain and how it advances from mild forgetfulness to dementia? Here we discuss the plaques, tangles, and how they progress.

How to Treat Anxiety and Depression in People With Dementia

Does your loved one have depression, anxiety, irritability, or agitation from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia? Here are medications and other treatment options that may help.

Medications to Improve Apathy & Attention

Is your loved one not participating or paying attention? Medications and meditation may help!

Medications to Enhance Memory

Are there actually medications that can boost memory? The answer is yes for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders.

EEG Marker Found to Predict Long-term Learning

Performance on a test at the end of a course does not always correlate with long-term learning. But we found a brain marker that does.

When Do You Need to See a Memory Expert?

Your primary care provider may not have all the answers. Seek out a specialist if, after seeing your doctor, you are still concerned about your memory.

What Dementia, MCI, and Subjective Cognitive Decline Mean

Be armed with the knowledge of what these terms used in memory disorders mean.

Seek Joy When Caring for Those With Dementia

Too often when caring for someone with dementia we focus on the problems. Don’t forget to have fun.

8 Principles for Communicating With People With Dementia

Learning how to best communicate with those who have cognitive impairment can help prevent irritability, agitation, and aggression.

  • Previous
  • Page 1 (current)
  • Next