If you’re
like me, you worry about memory loss: can’t remember a friend’s name; where you
parked the car or why is my banana in the freezer? But memory loss can have
more serious consequences: forgetting to turn off the stove or taking your
medications.
So how
do you know if your memory loss is normal or an indication of future difficulties?
One method is a simple memory test such as I was given during my in-home health
assessment provided by my Medicare Advantage Plan.
During
the health assessment, I was asked to repeat three words: dog, couch, pizza. And
since I’m concerned about my memory, I knew I had better remember those three
words because I would be asked to repeat them later. But I was prepared!
I knew
from the Center’s Brain Fitness Club a good technique to remember several words
is to visualize them together. So, I created a mental picture of a “DOG, lying
on a COUCH eating PIZZA”. (It also pictured quite a mess and my wife really wasn’t
happy!)
I was
then asked several more questions testing my memory: what day is it? what time
does a picture of a clock without the numerals represent? I answered them both
correctly as I kept mentally focused on a picture of a “DOG on COUCH eating PIZZA”.
There
were more general health related questions and I seemed to remember being told
what vaccines the “DOG on the COUCH eating
PIZZA” needed and something about an Advanced Directive that all “DOGS on COUCHES
eating PIZZA” should have.
As
expected at the end of my interview I was asked to repeat those three words and
I calmly answered, “WIFE chasing me around LIVING ROOM with a BROOM!”. No, that’s
the wrong picture. It’s “DOG on a COUCH eating PIZZA”.
The
good news is I passed the memory test. But unfortunately, if you asked me to
repeat anything else I was told - I wouldn’t have a clue.
If you
are concerned about your own memory (and who isn’t), you will want to attend
Nicole Pashek’s presentation about “Normal Memory Loss and Aging” on Wednesday,
August 7th at 11:00 at the Center. Write it down!
Until
then here are three riddles to work your brain’s neurons and synapses. (Answers
will be in next week’s column or you can find them on the Center’s website: www.midcolumbiaseniorcenter.com.)
#1. One
snowy morning, Jane awoke to find that her bedroom window was misty with
condensation. She drew the word "SNOWING" on it with her finger. Then
she crossed out the letter N, turning it into another English word:
"SOWING." She continued this way, removing one letter at a time,
until there was just one letter remaining, which is itself a word. What words
did Jane make, and in what order?
#2. The
Number Row. The numbers one through 10, below, are listed in the following
order: 8 5 4 9 1 7 6 10 3 2. What is the rule that causes them to be in this
order? (Hint - don’t think mathematically.)
#3. Counting
Bills. I had a wad of money in my pocket. I gave half away and of what
remained, I spent half. Then, I lost five dollars. That left me with just five
bucks. How much money did I start with?
The
Danny Thomas Show ran on CBS from 1957 through 1964, but it
first aired on ABC in 1953 as Make Room for Daddy. I received correct
answers from Rhonda Spies, Alice Mattox, Cheri Brent, Beverly McKinney, Mike
Carrico, Jess Birge, Betsy Ayres and Debra Sorrels this week’s winner of a
quilt raffle ticket.
I
enjoy scanning the advertisements in magazines from the 50’s and 60’s and
reminiscing about some of the products that have faded away. Jean Hockman and I
were doing just that when looking through a Life magazine, Jean came across
an advertisement for a popular diet product - before the days of Slimfast.
For
this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of this brand of diet
drink introduced in the early 1960’s that originally came as a powder fortified
with vitamins and minerals which was to be mixed with water? Email your answer
to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or return your
answer with the November 20th, 1964 edition of Life magazine.
Well,
it’s been another week, keeping my cool. Until we meet
again, if you are going to walk on the moon you have to get there first.
“I am
never upset for the reason I think.” Helen Schueman
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