Seven Steps to Managing Your Memory

Andrew E. Budson, MD, majored in chemistry and philosophy at Haverford College before receiving his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. Dr. Budson is Professor of Neurology at Boston University, Lecturer in Neurology at Harvard Medical School, and Chief of Cognitive & Behavioral Neurology at the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System. His career combines education, research, and clinical care to help those with memory disorders.Maureen K. O'Connor, PsyD, was educated at Ithaca College, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. O'Connor is Assistant Professor of Neurology at Boston University, Director of Neuropsychology at the Bedford Veterans Affairs Hospital, and Member at Large of the National Academy of Neuropsychology. Her award-winning research, education, and clinical care focuses on patients with memory disorders.

Drs. Andrew Budson and Maureen O'Connor use real-life examples to instruct readers on how to understand the differences between signs of normal aging versus indicators of potentially more-serious signs of diminished capacity. This easy-to-read book is suitable for anyone who is concerned about their own memory or the memory of a loved one.

• Table of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgementsHow to Use this BookAbout the StoriesIntroductionStep 1: Learn What is Normal MemoryChapter 1: Which Memory Errors can Happen to Anyone of Any Age?Chapter 2: How Does Memory Change in Normal Aging? Step 2: Determine if Your Memory is NormalChapter 3: What Kinds of Memory Problems are not Normal?Chapter 4: What Should the Doctor do to Evaluate My Memory?Chapter 5: When are Special Tests and Evaluations Needed? Step 3: Understand Your Memory Loss Chapter 6: Will My Memory Get Better? Which Causes of Memory Loss are Reversible?Chapter 7: What are Dementia, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Subjective Cognitive Decline?Chapter 8: What is Alzheimer's Disease?Chapter 9: What is Vascular Dementia?Chapter 10: What Else Could It Be? What are Other Brain Disorders of Aging Affecting Thinking and Memory?Step 4: Treat Your Memory LossChapter 11: Which Medications Can Help Memory Loss and Alzheimer's Disease?Chapter 12: I'm Feeling A Bit Anxious and Depressed by My Memory Loss or My Diagnosis. What Should I Do About These Feelings?Step 5: Modify Your LifestyleChapter 13: What Foods Should I Eat or Avoid to Help My Memory?Chapter 14: Can Physical Activity and Exercise Help My Memory?Step 6: Strengthen Your MemoryChapter 15: What Can I Do to Strengthen My Memory? Chapter 16: What Strategies Can I Use to Help My Memory?Chapter 17: Which Memory Aids are Helpful?Step 7: Plan Your FutureChapter 18: Will Changes In My Memory Change My Life?Chapter 19: Where Do I Go From Here?GlossaryFurther ReadingAbout the AuthorsIndex