September 22nd, 2009
Many people are forgetful at times; this is just a common byproduct of being imperfect and of living in very stressful times. However, if you’re very forgetful of things that are really rather routine, you may be wondering if you are exhibiting the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, or if someone you know is.
Forgetfulness is one of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, which is a form of dementia or brain malfunction that typically affects older persons. But how do you know if you really are exhibiting symptoms of Alzheimer’s or if you’re just stressed and perhaps absentminded?
A good way to tell the difference between normal forgetfulness and symptoms of Alzheimer’s is to understand how memory works. The more you repeat something and the longer you know a certain piece of information, the more it’s going to be permanently stored in your brain. It takes at least 8 seconds of concentration on any bit of information to move it from short-term memory to long-term. This is why it’s so easy to forget where you put your keys – you only think about where you’ve dropped them for half a second, so that information is not in long-term memory storage.
We do most things every day because they’re in our long-term memory storage. Common symptoms of Alzheimer’s include forgetting to do things or forgetting how to relate to things that should be in that long-term storage. You know how to wash your hair because you’ve been doing it for so long that it’s stored in your memory permanently, and you know what shampoo is because you’ve been using it for so long that its use is in that memory storage as well.
Forgetting where you put your car keys is normal because it’s not in long-term memory storage. However, symptoms of Alzheimer’s might mean forgetting what car keys are used for. Forgetting to buy shampoo at the store happens because you didn’t think about it long enough to put that chore into long-term memory storage, but recognizing what a bottle of shampoo is should be there. If you look at a bottle of shampoo and have no idea what it is, that is perhaps a symptom of Alzheimer’s.
Of course, if you suspect that you or someone you know is showing symptoms of Alzheimer’s, you should make an appointment with a doctor to be tested and find out for sure, and to begin treatment right away.
Tags: symptoms of alzheimers
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September 20th, 2009
Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative and debilitating condition that unfortunately has no cure as of yet. While doctors and scientists work on finding that elusive cure, they are recognizing ways that one can delay the effects of Alzheimer’s disease at least for some time.
It was recently reported by the Associated Press that if you exercise your brain you may be able to put off the effects of Alzheimer’s. This may be because as you stay mentally active, the brain continues to build neurons and renew itself. Alzheimer’s is often thought to be caused by the breakdown of neurons and nerve cells in the brain. By building new ones, you are offsetting the effects of Alzheimer’s by at least a small amount.
Challenging your brain may include doing any type of mental exercise that challenges you. This could include doing crossword puzzles, playing chess, learning a foreign language, taking a class of any type, learning a new card game, or anything else that you find new and exciting.
The effects of Alzheimer’s may also be delayed or offset by protecting your social functions as well. Being around other people and having healthy relationships also protect your brain functions and neurons. It’s important then to stay active and socially connected, especially as you age. If you find that your family is no longer close, take the initiative to join a book club, a church, a volunteer organization, or any type of social setting that will keep you connected with people. By keeping yourself tied with other persons on a regular basis you can help keep the effects of Alzheimer’s from taking over or setting in too early.
Keeping stress and anxiety at bay also seems to help keep your brain healthy as well. Excessive stress causes your blood vessels to constrict and your heart to work overtime, both of which are very bad for your circulatory system. The brain needs fresh blood and oxygen just as much as any other part of the body to delay the effects of Alzheimer’s.
You obviously cannot stop Alzheimer’s disease completely; however, there are steps you can do to keep yourself mentally healthy and socially active in order to fend off the disease as long as possible, and to make it more manageable if you do contract it. Work hard to keep yourself healthy and you’ll experience the benefits of long-term health when it comes to the effects of Alzheimer’s.
Tags: effects of alzheimers
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September 18th, 2009
Years ago, cosmetics companies were responsible for the designer perfumes that lined counters in posh department stores. Names like Estee Lauder, Chanel, and Guerlain, were all the rage and these companies would often get celebrities to endorse their designer perfumes. Now days, celebrities don’t seem to want to endorse another companies designer perfume. The rage in Hollywood is for every starlet to have her own line of designer perfumes and cosmetics.
Do The Celebrities Actually Have A Hand In Things
The extent to which a celebrity is involved in the designer perfume that is sold in their name can vary. Some celebrities turn the design tasks over to professionals and simply give their approval on the finished products. Other celebrities are involved in the process from the conceptualization stages to the marketing of the designer perfume.
While Celine Dion says she was involved in every aspect of the development of her designer perfume, that doesn’t mean she donned a lab coat and actually mixed the vials of scent like a proverbial mad scientist. Rather she was involved in the development process that decided just what kind of scent she wanted to manufacture. She also took part in designing the bottle and the marketing of her newest line.
Jennifer Lopez is another celebrity that likes to be involved in the production of her designer perfume. Having once worked at a cosmetics counter, she knew exactly what she wanted her signature fragrance to smell like. The company that worked out the fragrance combination credits her with adding the hint of sake scent that tops off the perfume. She even had the bottle design include a pretend diamond ring or necklace on the neck in tribute to her penchant for wearing jewelry. By keeping involved with each aspect of her scent’s development, she can make sure that the perfume genuinely reflects who she is.
Paris Hilton doesn’t claim to be involved in every aspect of her perfume designs however she does take a large role in the marketing of her perfume. Without her famous face, the perfume would probably get lost amidst the many other fragrances at the local drug and discount store.
Celebrity Designer Perfumes Grow In Popularity
When celebrities, such as Elizabeth Taylor, first introduced designer perfumes decades ago, the reaction was mixed. Some critics felt that celebrity perfumes were just a fad. Today with many celebrities, such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Britney Spears, joining the ranks of perfume makers, the sales of celebrity fragrances is growing in leaps and bounds.
Tags: designer perfume
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