Thought Processes in Seniors with Alzheimers

By: Dr Suzanne LaCombe, October 17, 2007.

Indviduals suffering from alzheimers experience continual detergeneration of the memory areas of the brain. As with any external or internal stressors or trauma to the brain they in turn raise one's autonomic nervous system activation.

This activation propells us into a common experience: repeating thoughts. Here's one way to understand it.

When we have high activation our left "thinking" brain goes into problem-solving mode. Preseverating on the same thoughts is an attempt of the left brain to "solve" the problem, a normal reaction when we have experienced traumatic events. It has been suggested that the faster the rate of change the more this is evident.

The caregiver

Many people finding this page may have loved ones who are suffering from this debilitating disease. I found these words haunting but felt they might capture the experience of the cargiver. They're from a recent movie you may have already heard about: Away from Her.

Gordon Pinsent, the hero in the story is reading a chapter from a book on Alzheimers:

• The cargiver must preside over the degeneration of someone he or she loves very much.
• Must do this for years and years with the news always getting worse, not better.
• Must put up with sometimes deranged...the same time, personal insults.
• At the same time must somehow learn to smile through it all.

As you may have learned on this site, the way to help one cope with high activation is to use right brain strategies i.e. images, soothing sounds, baths etc. to calm the body.

Calming the body, in turn calms the mind. This is essentially the mind body connection that recent advances in neuroscience have helped us to better understand.

External Resources

Here's a completely new way of approaching the Alzheimer's that preserves the dignity of what can be possible in relationships despiste this illness. Totally inspiring!

The Memory Bridge

From American Public Radio a special on the African American experience with Alzheimer's. You can order the DVD from this site below: 

Facing Alzheimer's: An African-American Perspective

We offer three DVD's that were ear marked for those individuals suffering from alzheimers.

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Order the full box set for only $74.99!

You'll save 15% ($14.98) off the regular 3-title price! Plus… receive a 4th hour-long Nature-Music DVD FREE! And don't forget -- shipping is included.

You can also order DVDs at the regular price of $29.99 each with free shipping.

Don't lose track! Add to your FAV bookmarks:

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