If you were hoping to read something less scientific and more in line with my previous posts, I ask for your patience. For just a few moments you may need to sit through some “class-time” before we get to the good stuff. Pay attention, there will be a short quiz at the end of this lesson. And yes, I will grade it on a curve. If you feel bold and want to jump ahead right to the quiz, its your call but do so at your own peril.
PD 101 – MCI
Parkinson’s is a disease that largely impacts the motor skills, in my case, the fine motor skills. Working with small or intricate items can, and do, create humorous situations. However it may be accompanied by a cognitive component. According to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, MJFF,
“Some memory changes can happen simply with aging – mild forgetfulness, misplacing keys or glasses, and difficulty recalling information quickly. When memory or thinking problems are out of proportion to what is expected with normal aging, it may be due to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) – a non-motor symptom that can be associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD).”
Mild cognitive impairment is neither a form of dementia nor a precursor to dementia. Many with PD experience MCI in one form or another, but it does not impact one’s daily life in a substantive manner. What researchers have found is that those who stay engaged with others, exercise their minds via reading, word puzzles and other creative outlets, and exercise and stay active tend to experience less severe MCI than others.
PD 102 – Areas affected
The Davis Phinney Foundation, another leader in research and treatments pertaining to Parkinson’s, has this to add:
While everyone experiences subtle changes and declines in how they think and process with age, people with Parkinson’s who have more trouble with cognition than what is considered normal for their age have mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Typically, three primary areas of cognition are affected:
- Executive functioning: including multitasking, reasoning, problem solving, concentration and complex planning.
- Language: including difficulty finding the right word in your mind or feeling tongue-tied.
- Memory: trouble retrieving memories that have already been encoded. This is different than Alzheimer’s, where memories are not able to be encoded.
One of the fears that I had when I was first diagnosed pertained to how it would impact my thinking and my mind. If you haven’t figured it out by now, my mind works much differently than mosts. After five plus years of living with Parkinson’s, I can say with a great deal of confidence that my mind has not been affected adversely. In some respects, my thought processes are becoming more complex, less linear and more intuitive.
DM 101 – Dementia
In contrast, dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with ones daily life. Memory loss is an example. Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia.
While both originate in the brain, dementia has a genetic component that is absent in Parkinson’s. Dementia affects memory and reasoning more than physical movements. While MCI can develop into dementia, it is not a certainty. Parkinson’s does not evolve into dementia.
If you like to read more on dementia and are convinced that your spouse or loved ones is inflicted by this dreaded conditions, follow this link to download a document that lists the 10 warning signs. Take as much time as you need, I will be right here when you return . If you don’t make it back, no assumptions with be made that you have dementia or that you forgot where you parked your car.
Fear Not!
I maintain that I have a great life and the best is yet to come. I have little, if any fear that dementia is the next step in my progression. Will I forget things that I shouldn’t? Probably! Will I forget the name of someone I have just met or interact with infrequently? Most Likely! Are these telltale signs of dementia? I suspect not!
Will I experience some forms of MCI as outlined by Davis Phinney, such as language difficulties? In some respects I already may be, or maybe the ability to speak eloquently on cue was never one of my gifts. Regardless, my mind is as sharp as it ever was, my instincts as keen, and thought patterns just as complex. Sworn affidavits available upon request.
The Quiz
Now is the time to see if you were paying attention. One question, no incorrect answers. Are you ready?
I read this weeks post because:
[ ] I am just curious!
[ ] I know someone with Parkinson’s.
[ ] I have Parkinson’s.
[ ] I like Golden Retrievers!
[ ] I was in frozen foods looking for ice cream and forgot where I parked.
Regardless, of why you came, I am glad that you did.
By the way, if you’re new here, don’t be surprised if you’re greeted by an overly affectionate golden retriever! Her name is Ivy and she likes ice cream!
Thanks for reading, liking and….
Al and his faithful sidekick, and self-proclaimed Cookies and Cream aficionado, Ivy the wonder pup!
…sharing. Sorry about that. The whole frozen food thing just hit me!