HealthyLife Articles

Category: Brain & Nervous System

A Beautiful Brain

Brain & Nervous System

Like a great conductor, our brain directs our every movement, sound, and emotion. It never stops working and thinking for us, but we rarely return the favor and think about the health of our brain. A healthy brain can concentrate, analyze, plan, learn, remember, feel, and so much more.

While a healthy lifestyle supports a healthy brain, a happy brain also stays engaged. Feed your brain by playing games, learning new things, and staying connected with friends and family.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
How Aging Affects Memory

Brain & Nervous System

Many people are afraid that growing old means losing the ability to think, reason, or remember.

Some short-term memory loss does come with aging. You may, for example, forget where you put your keys or not remember the name of a person you just met. This is normal. Memory lapses that interfere with your normal activities, though, are not a normal part of aging. Nor is confusion.

People who have changes in personality, behavior, or skills may have a brain or nervous system condition. These problems could also be a side effect of certain medicines, too much alcohol, or depression. This chapter gives information on common brain and nervous conditions in older persons.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Alzheimer’s Disease

Brain & Nervous System

About 5.3 million persons in the U.S. have Alzheimer’s disease (AD). It is the most common cause of dementia – a broad term that means cognitive function declines enough to interfere with daily life activities. Nearly half of people age 85 and older may have AD, but it is not a normal part of aging.

Signs & Symptoms

Alzheimer’s disease has a gradual onset. How quickly signs and symptoms occur and progress varies from person to person. The average time span is about 3 to 6 years after symptoms start. Survival can be as long as 20 years.

The Alzheimer’s Association gives these 10 symptoms for AD:

* Memory changes that disrupt daily life. Persons with AD forget important dates, events, and/or information. They may also ask the same question over and over.

* Problems doing familiar tasks. Persons with AD may have a hard time fixing a meal or driving to a familiar place.

* New problems speaking or writing. Persons with AD often forget simple words or phrases or use unusual words for things. An example is calling a toothbrush “that thing for my mouth.”

* Problems with visual images and spatial relationships. Persons may have problems with reading, color and contrast, and judging distance.

* Problems with planning and/or solving problems. Persons with AD have trouble making and following plans. They have trouble working with numbers, such as balancing a checkbook.

* Problems with awareness of time and place. Persons with AD may forget where they are, how they got there, and how to get back home. They may lose track of dates and seasons.

* Poor or decreased judgment. Persons with AD neglect daily grooming and may not dress right for the weather. They show poor judgment about money.

* Misplacing things. Persons with AD lose things and can not retrace their steps to find them. They put things in unusual places, such as a wristwatch in a sugar bowl.

* Changes in mood or personality. Persons with AD can get very confused, depressed, fearful, and worried. They rely on someone else to make decisions for them.

* Withdrawal from social activities and work. Persons with AD get less involved with hobbies, social events, sports, and work.

Causes

With AD, certain protein deposits (plaques) and twisted fibers (tangles) build up in the brain. Over time, this causes large numbers of nerve cells in the brain to die.

Risk factors for AD are getting older and a family history of the disease. Having heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, a stroke, or a brain injury may increase the risk. Staying physically and mentally active and eating healthy throughout life may lower the risk for AD.

Treatment

A medical diagnosis suggests (or rules out) Alzheimer’s disease. Other conditions, such as depression, a severe lack of vitamin B12, and blood clots in the brain can cause symptoms like AD. So can side effects of some medicines.

There is no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Prescribed medicines may help some persons with mild to moderate AD.

Questions to Ask

Self-Care / Prevention

There is no known prevention. Studies are being done to find out ways to lower the risk of AD and delay the onset of symptoms. Some studies suggest to do things that keep the mind active. This includes crossword puzzles and reading.

Good planning, medical care, and social management help both the person and caregivers cope with symptoms and maintain the quality of life for as long as possible. An Advance Directive should be done in the early stages of AD to allow for the person’s wishes. It’s very helpful to put structure in the life of the person in the early stages of AD. To do this:

* Maintain daily routines.

* See that the person with AD eats well- balanced meals and stays as active as he or she can. Activities like going for walks with others are good.

* Post safety signs like “Don’t touch.” Make “to do” lists of daily tasks.

* Put things in their proper places after use. This helps the person find things when he or she needs them.

* Make sure the person carries identification or wears a medical ID bracelet.

Resources

Alzheimer’s Disease Education & Referral (ADEAR) Center

800.438.4380

www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers

Alzheimer’s Association

800.272.3900

www.alz.org

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Alzheimer’s Disease 2

Brain & Nervous System

A healthy lifestyle can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.

Although there is no known prevention for Alzheimer’s Disease, studies suggest staying physically and mentally active may help.

A medical evaluation is needed to suggest (or rule out) Alzheimer’s disease.

Depression, a severe lack of vitamin B12, and blood clots in the brain can cause symptoms like those of Alzheimer’s disease. So can side effects of some medicines.

Be physically active with at least 30 minutes of movement every day. Eat healthy and avoid excessive alcohol. Quit smoking. Prevent and manage high blood pressure and blood sugar if you have diabetes. Stay socially connected.

Keep your mind active with work, learning new things, reading, crossword puzzles, etc.

Learn more about Alzheimer’s and how it differs from other forms of dementia from the Alzheimer’s Association atalz.org.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Bell’s Palsy

Brain & Nervous System

With Bell’s palsy, a nerve that runs between the ear and the jaw becomes inflamed. This paralyzes the muscles on one side of the face. Bell’s palsy occurs in about 1 in 2,000 people each year. It can occur at any age. In older persons, it is especially important to distinguish Bell’s palsy from a stroke.

Signs & Symptoms

The onset of signs and symptoms is usually sudden. You may have pain or tingling on one side of your face 1 or 2 days before signs and symptoms occur. Often, symptoms will be noticed when you wake up.

* These problems occur on one side of your face:

– It droops or sags, has no expression, or looks flat.

– The muscles are weak or paralyzed.

– You can’t smile or frown or if you can, these look distorted. You drool.

– Pain. The area behind the ear on that side of your face can hurt, too.

* These problems occur with your eye:

– Your eyelid droops.

– You can’t close your eye.

– Your eye tears.

* Other problems can occur:

– You have changes in taste.

– You are more sensitive to noise.

Causes, Risk Factors & Care

The cause is not known. These factors may cause the facial nerve to swell:

* A virus, such as shingles

* A physical blow that damages the facial nerve

* Decrease in blood flow and pressure on the facial nerve. This could be due to circulation problems.

* Family traits

Most of the time, Bell’s palsy goes away on its own. If you have symptoms, though, you should see your doctor. He or she can make the diagnosis and rule out other conditions, such as a stroke. The time it takes to recover varies and depends on the extent of nerve damage and how severe the paralysis is. Even 80% to 90% of persons with severe facial paralysis have a complete recovery. Symptoms start to go away in about 2 to 3 weeks. It could take months for them to be all gone.

Self-care can help with the discomfort. For severe cases, a doctor may prescribe:

* Nerve conduction tests of the facial nerves

* Physical and/or speech therapy

* Corticosteroid medicine to reduce swelling of the affected nerve

* Eye drops to comfort and protect the affected eye

* Electric stimulation to the affected muscle

* Surgery, on occasion, to reduce pressure on the facial nerve

* Plastic surgery may be done in rare cases, if the face remains paralyzed.

Self-Care

Try to be patient. Bell’s palsy is a cause for distress, but is not dangerous. The goal of self-care is to ease symptoms and to prevent damage to the eye.

For Pain:

* Take an over-the-counter medicine for pain.

* Cover or close your eye. Apply a heating pad (set on low) to the painful area. Do this for 15 minutes at a time, 2 times a day.

* Soak a washcloth in hot water. Wring it out. Close your eye and place it on the closed eye for 15 minutes.

If You Cannot Close Your Eye:

* Wear wraparound goggles during the day to protect your eyes from dust, dirt, and dryness. Wear an eye patch at night to help hold the eyelid shut.

* Exercise the affected facial muscles as advised by your doctor or physical therapist. Do a facial massage for 15 to 20 minutes a day. With an oil or a cream, massage the muscles of your forehead, cheek, lips, and eye area.

* Use over-the-counter artificial tears as advised by your doctor.

* Keep up with your normal activities.

* Eat soft foods, if you need to.

When to Seek Medical Care

Contact Doctor When:

* You have no improvement in symptoms 3 weeks after you have been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy.

* You have any of these problems after a diagnosis of Bell’s palsy:

– Symptoms get worse.

– The numbness or weakness appear to be spreading or affect an area or body part not affected before.

– Your eye gets very red or irritated.

– Fever

– Severe pain

– Swelling or a lump in front of the ear

Get Immediate Care When:

You have signs of a stroke.

{Note: Immediate care is advised because the initial symptoms of Bell’s palsy are similar to ones of a stroke. This is especially true for older persons.}

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Cognitive Function

Brain & Nervous System

Exam to Assess Mental Status

A number of tests can assess mental status. A common one used is called “Mini-Mental State Examination.” It was written by M.S. Folstein, S.E. Folstein, and P.R. McHugh. Adapted from this examination are the questions that follow. They were taken from “Working With Your Older Patient: A Clinician’s Handbook” by B. Gaskel, Bethesda, MD: National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Dementias

Brain & Nervous System

Dementias are brain diseases. They result in a decline of all areas of mental ability. This includes learning, memory, problem solving, behaviors, and language.

Signs & Symptoms

Symptoms of most forms of dementia usually appear slowly over time. However, with a certain form, multi- infarct dementia, the onset of symptoms can be sudden. Symptoms of dementia include:

* Poor memory of recent events, etc.

* Making up stories to explain memory loss

* Getting lost in familiar settings

* Not being able to finish tasks

* Decreased energy

* Social withdrawal or depression

* General confusion

* Behaviors that are paranoid, anxious, irritating, childlike, or rigid

* No interest in personal hygiene, grooming, or dressing oneself

* Unclear speech

Causes & Care

Primary or True Dementias

The origin of the dementia is in the brain itself. Examples of this type are:

* Alzheimer’s disease. This is the most common type of dementia.

* Multi-infarct dementia. This is due to blocked blood vessels in the brain. Often the cause is a stroke.

* Parkinson’s disease

* Pick’s disease. This is like Alzheimer’s disease, but has different changes in the brain.

* Huntington’s disease. This is an inherited disease. Dementia symptoms usually start in middle age. Facial tics and other uncontrolled movements also occur.

* Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease. This is caused by a virus that lies dormant in the body for years. When the virus is activated, the dementia progresses quickly.

* Multiple sclerosis. With this, scar tissue in the brain can prevent the normal travel of nerve impulses used for mental function. Dementia with multiple sclerosis is rare, though, and may occur with the end stage of this disease.

Secondary Dementias

* Depression

* Alcohol problems

* Reactions to certain medicines

* Poor nutrition. Lack of vitamin B12.

* Hypothyroidism

* Dehydration

* Head injuries

* Infections, such as HIV which causes AIDS or syphilis

* Brain tumors

{Note: A recent study found that older Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are nearly two times as likely to have dementia than their peers who do not have PTSD.}

Dementias need medical diagnosis and treatment. When another condition, such as depression, is the cause and is treated with success, the dementia can be cured. For others, such as Alzheimer’s disease, there is no cure. The goal of treatment is to treat symptoms and provide safety and comfort.

Self-Care

The person with dementia needs to:

* Follow a simple daily routine

* Limit activities

* Wear an ID tag

* Be kept in a safe environment

* Have labels put on objects

* Eat a well balanced diet and drink plenty of fluids

* Have regular sensory stimulation, like touching, exercising, etc.

Caretakers should:

* Assume a non-combative approach to difficult behaviors. Steer the person into another activity.

* Give medicines as advised by the person’s doctor and report and review medicines with the doctor and/or pharmacist.

* Get home care, respite care, hospital, or nursing home care, if needed.

When to Seek Medical Care

Contact Doctor When:

* You are unable to care for someone with dementia or he or she is too agitated or hostile to control.

* A medical evaluation is needed for a person with symptoms of dementia.

Get Immediate Care When:

Any of the “Stroke Warning Signs” are present.

Delirium

Delirium is mental confusion, behavior changes, etc. that develop in a matter of hours to a day or so. Delirium is a symptom of another condition, such as:

* A high fever

* Pneumonia or other infection

* Diabetes

* Substance abuse or withdrawal

* Misuse or withdrawal of certain medicines

Immediate medical care is needed for delirium so the cause can be found and treated.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Dizziness & Vertigo

Brain & Nervous System

Dizziness is feeling lightheaded. It is a symptom of another condition. Vertigo is a spinning feeling. It affects the inner ear, the brain’s gravity-and-motion detector.

Dizziness Conditions

Heat Stroke

Signs & Symptoms

Sudden dizziness with:

* Hot, dry, red skin

* High fever. No sweating.

* Pulse that is rapid and then gets weak

* Exposure to very, very hot conditions

What to Do

Get immediate care.

Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack

Signs & Symptoms

Dizziness with “Stroke Warning Signs”

What to Do

Follow “Immediate Care” guideline.

Heart Attack

Signs & Symptoms

Dizziness with “Heart Attack Warning Signs”

What to Do

Follow “Immediate Care” guidelines

Irregular Heartbeat

Signs & Symptoms

Dizziness with a heart rate greater than 130 beats per minute or less than 50 beats per minute or an irregular heart rhythm

What to Do

Get immediate care.

Dehydration

Signs & Symptoms

Dizziness with “Signs & Symptoms” of dehydration

What to Do

Get immediate care.

Intestinal Obstruction

Signs & Symptoms

Dizziness with:

* Abdominal pain and swelling that worsen

* Inability to pass stool or gas

* Vomiting

What to Do

Get immediate care.

Dissecting Aortic Aneurysm

This is a tear in the main artery from the heart.

Signs & Symptoms

Dizziness and fainting. Severe chest pain with extreme pain felt across the upper back (not just on one side) that came on within 15 minutes for no apparent reason, such as an injury or back strain. The pain can spread to the abdomen.

What to Do

Get immediate care. (Do not take aspirin.)

Ear Infection

Signs & Symptoms

Dizziness with ear pain, ringing in the ear, pus or other ear discharge, fever

What to Do

Contact doctor.

Labyrnthitis

This is an inflammation in the ear that usually results from an upper respiratory infection.

Signs & Symptoms

Dizziness with:

* True spinning sensation

* Loss of balance

* Nausea and vomiting

* Ringing in the ears

* Jerky movements of the eye

What to Do

Contact doctor.

Low Blood Sugar

This can occur in persons taking insulin or oral pills for diabetes and/or after not eating for 4 or more hours.

Signs & Symptoms

Dizziness with hunger, sweating, trembling, anxiety, and confusion

What to Do

Use self-care.

Temporary Drop in Blood Pressure (Orthostatic Hypotension)

This could be a side effect of taking medicines, such as ones for high blood pressure and depression.

Signs & Symptoms

Dizziness when getting up too quickly from a seated or lying position

What to Do

Use self-care.

Other Causes of Dizziness:

* Alcohol

* New medications, antibiotics, or high doses of aspirin

* A change in altitude or motion sickness

* Sudden movement, such as with turning the head quickly

* Seeing fast moving objects Treatment for dizziness depends on the cause.

Vertigo

Signs & Symptoms

* Wooziness

* Sense that the room is spinning

* Nausea

* Blurred vision

* Floating, rocking, and/or rolling feeling

* Sense of walking on an uneven surface

* Loss of balance

Causes, Risk Factors & Care

Vertigo is caused by a problem with the inner ear. Causes of vertigo are:

* Benign Positional Vertigo (BPV). This is the most common type. It may happen when you turn over in bed, get up, sit down, bend over, or just tilt your head. The sensations start within seconds of changing positions and last less than a minute. As bothersome as BPV is, it rarely signals more serious disease. Risk factors for BPV are aging, viral infections, and a prior head injury.

* Ménière’s disease. This condition may be due to spasms of blood vessels in the inner ear, fluid retention in the inner ear, or allergic reactions. Ménière’s disease is linked with a decrease in hearing and tinnitus. It sometimes leads to permanent hearing loss.

* Multiple sclerosis. With this, the covering that protects nerves (myelin) is destroyed. Over time, scar tissue (sclerosis) forms where the myelin used to be in the brain and spinal cord. Scar tissue or inflammation in the brain may cause vertigo symptoms.

After proper diagnosis, most cases of vertigo are easily treated in the doctor’s office or at home with self-care.

While attacks of Ménière’s disease can continue for many years, some symptoms can be controlled with medication.

Self-Care

For Orthostatic Hypotension:

* Don’t jump out of bed. Go from a lying position to a sitting position slowly. Sit on the edge of the bed a few minutes. Stand up slowly.

* From a sitting position, stand up slowly. Hold onto the arms of the chair or the head of the bed for support.

* If you feel lightheaded, sit back down for a few minutes. Take a few deep breaths. Get up again, slowly.

For Benign Positional Vertigo (BPV):

* Sit on the side of the bed and lean to your right, resting the right ear on the bed. This might make you dizzy and nauseous at first.

* Wait 20 seconds until the dizziness stops and sit up straight.

* Wait another 20 seconds and repeat steps 1 and 2 on your left side.

* Do this exercise 10 to 15 times, 3 times a day.

For Ménière’s Disease:

* Lie still in bed until the dizziness and nausea are gone.

* Walk with assistance.

* Don’t change positions too fast.

* Do not drive, climb ladders, or work around dangerous machinery.

* Decrease the amount of salt and fluids in your diet.

* Avoid bright lights. Do not read when you have a spinning feeling.

* Resume your normal activities when symptoms go away.

* Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Headaches

Brain & Nervous System

Persons who suffer from headaches should see a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Common causes of headaches are tension, sinus problems, tobacco smoke, low blood sugar, and things in your diet like red wine, aged cheese, and MSG.

Keep a diary of when headaches occur, how long they last, and where and how severe the pain is. Keep track of other symptoms, such as nausea, too. Show this diary to your doctor to help them identify which type of headache you have and the most beneficial treatments.

The most common treatments for headaches are rest and over-the-counter pain relievers. It is best to treat headaches when they begin or when they are still mild. Prescription medication may also be prescribed by your doctor.

In addition to medicine, self-care practices can also help manage your symptoms and prevent headaches. Examples include putting a heat or ice pack on your head or neck, getting enough quality sleep, and drinking plenty of water.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Learn For Brain Health

Brain & Nervous System

As adults grow older, it’s important for brain health to have new learning challenges, and to improve problem-solving and reasoning skills.

Endless possibilities: Choose a subject or a skill you are curious about or wished you explored when you were younger. Want to learn a musical instrument? Become more computer-savvy? Improve car maintenance skills?

Local learning: Take a course at a library, community college, or recreation center.

Online and free: Check out the wide variety of free, online courses atedx.orgorcoursera.org.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026