DEAR DR. MICHELLE,
I’m in my mid-60s and noticing that I don’t always come up with words as quickly as I used to. Should I be concerned?
Word-finding difficulties can appear as part of the normal aging process, beginning in the 60s and accelerating over the decades. So, struggling to get the right or exact word you’re looking for may not be cause for concern. Are you able to come up with a similar word? Does the word come to you later? If the answers to these questions are yes, then you may be OK.
Often, when people are worried about a cognitive symptom, this can lead to a type of performance anxiety that can worsen the problem. Various distractions, whether internal (i.e., emotions or competing thoughts) or external (i.e., noise, activity) also affect cognitive performance, especially as we age.
Take a deep breath, be kind and patient with yourself. Avoid multi-tasking if this causes you to struggle more. And, get a cognitive screening to help put yourself at ease. This month is the perfect time to do it.
DEAR DR. MICHELLE,
I’ve been looking for alternative treatments for memory loss. One product I have come across is a stimulation device that uses a type of light and sound therapy to help slow memory decline. Does this really work and how is it different from the HOPE Cognito trial you had mentioned in a previous column about innovative treatments for Alzheimer’s disease?
Devices such as the one you are describing don’t have to go through the same regulatory processes as prescription medications in order to be sold and utilized by the public. So, we don’t really know if the stimulation device you found on the market is an effective and safe treatment for memory loss. To date, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has to approve all prescription medications for them to be available, has not approved any stimulation devices for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. But, again, these types of interventions do not require FDA approval to be marketed.
The HOPE Cognito trial is a research study designed to collect data on a medical device developed by MIT professors to deliver calibrated visual and auditory stimulation personalized to each user. Preliminary evidence from previous studies using the Cognito device has shown that it is safe and may help cognitive symptoms. If results from the HOPE study are favorable, Cognito plans to submit these data to the FDA for possible approval. You can learn more about the HOPE study at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05637801.
There are various opportunities in New Jersey for people to participate in the Cognito HOPE trial if they qualify.
*Michelle Papka, Ph.D. is the Founder of The Cognitive and Research Center of New Jersey (The CRCNJ) in Springfield, NJ. The mission of The CRCNJ is to provide no-cost diagnostic, treatment and supportive resources through clinical research opportunities to people affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive disorders.
