The article "Forgetful? You May Be Losing More Than Just Your Memory" discusses the results of a study that looked at people over the age of 60 who characterized themselves as forgetful but passed memory tests. Even though based on these tests they did not have significant memory problems, they had 3% less grey matter density than normal individuals. This percentage is only 1% lower than people who are diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) which is a condition whose symptoms lie between those of normal memory loss caused by aging and Alzheimer’s diseases. People with MCI are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or other memory related diseases in the future. For this reason, people with decreased grey matter density should be monitored closely in order to slow down or follow the loss of grey matter. Monitoring will help detect and treat memory related disease earlier. It will also help advance what we know about how memory loss progresses and leads to more serious conditions.
This article can be found here:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/09/060915204447.htm
The cartoon came from this website:
http://www.minniepauz.com/extcord2.jpg
This article can be found here:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/09/060915204447.htm
The cartoon came from this website:
http://www.minniepauz.com/extcord2.jpg
3 comments:
wow. that's kind of scary.
Do you know how do they recomend monitoring grey matter density-- and what the potential risks of that are?
And then how do you treat the problem if one is detected?
To answer Courtney, grey matter density can be quickly and easily assessed with an MR scan - totally safe. (i think you are ok though...)
The article did not really specify how the problem would be solved but I would guess that those who had the 3% decrease would eventually develop MCI and be trated for it. Here is a website that has more information about MCI and the available treatments http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/DS/00553.html
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