Have you ever walked into a room for
something and suddenly, you forgot
what you came in for? Or perhaps
you’ve forgotten the name of someone
you know. Memory lapses such as
these can be a normal part of the aging
process, yet they often leave us questioning
– what’s normal and what’s not?
“The brain’s development doesn’t
stop in childhood – it continuously
changes throughout the course of
one’s lifetime. As we age, some of
these changes can affect our memory,”
said Nancy S. Foldi, PhD, Director
of Neuropsychology in the Division of
Geriatrics at Winthrop-University
Hospital, and Director of the Memory
and Cognitive Disorders Center.
The brain, among the most complex
organs in the body, is made up of
approximately 10 billion cells. As we
age, the brain’s mass can shrink and
the outer surface can become thin. The
white matter, which helps regions of the
brain to communicate with one another,
can become less efficient, and the available
neurochemical transmitters that
are necessary for communication
between cells can also decline.
“Yet despite these structural
changes, research shows that young
and old people can still do some
things equally well. Older adults may
do it differently, but still as good as
younger adults,” said Dr. Foldi. “We
have a lot to learn about the relationship
between structure and function
of the brain as we age.”
In spite of the natural changes that
occur with aging, there are many things
a person can do to stimulate the brain
and keep it sharp. Among the most
important is general physical exercise –
it not only helps keep the body in shape,
but is an important tool for keeping the
brain healthy.
While occasionally forgetting someone’s
name or misplacing your keys is
normal, other changes such as trouble
remembering how to do things you’ve
done well countless times before – like
working on a familiar computer task or
following steps of a well-known recipe –
may indicate a more serious problem.
“Sometimes even a routine task –
like following a recipe – can become
overwhelming if a person is carrying
out that task in a different kitchen,”
said Dr. Foldi. “A serious problem
with memory loss may also be indicated
if a family member observes
significant changes, even though the
individual may not.”
“Some patients who have memory
problems may be aware that there is a
problem, but not always the extent of
the problem,” added Dr. Foldi. “It’s very
important not to jump to a diagnosis of
dementia without a full evaluation,
because there can be other causes
that alter cognitive function that must
be considered.”
Alzheimer’s disease – one of the
many types of dementia – is a progressive,
degenerative disease that
attacks the brain. In-depth clinical
and neuropsychological evaluations
are important assessment tools to
determine whether the problems are
due to Alzheimer’s disease.
Working with geriatricians, internal
medicine physicians, neurologists,
psychiatrists, and other physicians at
Winthrop as part of a patient’s dedicated
healthcare team, Dr. Foldi conducts
comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations
with patients. Many patients she
assesses are in early stages of disease,
or the presentation is unclear because
Alzheimer’s disease can present itself in
many different ways.
These thorough clinical assessments,
which take place at Winthrop
over the course of several hours or
days, consider a patient’s medical history,
current medications, and input
from a third party – such as a family
member or loved one.
“Every patient deserves a comprehensive
clinical evaluation before
a diagnosis is made and medical treatment
is prescribed,” said Dr. Foldi.
In addition to providing clinical
services, Dr. Foldi is also a Professor of
Psychology at Queens College and The
Graduate Center of the City University
of New York (CUNY) and has been
investigating the effects of aging on the
brain and behavior since the 1970s.
Along with her colleagues in the
Division of Geriatrics at Winthrop and
at Queens College, Dr. Foldi conducts
research studies on cognitive and attentional
changes that occur in patients as
well as healthy older adults.
Physicians in the Division of
Geriatrics at Winthrop offer comprehensive
primary care and specialized
services for the growing geriatric population
on Long Island. Working closely
with patients and families to develop
an individualized plan of care, the
team is committed to helping patients
maintain health, promote wellness and
effectively manage chronic illnesses.
For more information on services
available to patients in the Division of
Geriatric Medicine at Winthrop,
please call 1-866-WINTHROP.
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Vol. 19, No. 2
Summer 2009
Back to Publications
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