At the Strong New York fitness and wellness festival, Dr. Tommy Wood, a professor of pediatrics and neuroscience at the University of Washington, reminded attendees that common memory slips—such as forgetting names or misplacing keys—are typically the result of stress, fatigue, or inattention, not the onset of a neurodegenerative disease.
Understanding How Memory Works
Wood outlined the three stages of memory formation: encoding (creating the memory), consolidation (storing it), and retrieval (recalling it). When a person is stressed or sleep‑deprived, the problem usually lies in retrieval; the memory exists in the brain but is difficult to access at that moment. In contrast, individuals with a neurodegenerative condition often fail to encode the memory in the first place.
When to Seek Professional Help
“If you’re noticing something’s not quite right, that’s usually a good sign,” Wood said. Early awareness can prompt timely medical evaluation, which is crucial because treatable health issues—such as hearing loss, vision impairment, or cardiovascular risk factors—can mimic or exacerbate cognitive symptoms.
Preventable Risk Factors
Research indicates that at least half of dementia cases could be prevented by addressing lifestyle and health risk factors. Key areas include heart and metabolic health, as well as correcting hearing and vision deficits. Wood emphasized that obtaining hearing aids or undergoing cataract surgery can directly reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
Mindset Matters
“If you expect decline, you won’t do the things that will prevent decline from happening,” Wood warned. He encouraged a proactive mindset, noting that believing improvement is possible motivates individuals to adopt healthier habits that protect brain function.
Expert Consensus
The guidance aligns with recommendations from the Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic, which both highlight that several medical conditions—such as thyroid disorders, vitamin deficiencies, and sleep apnea—can mimic early dementia symptoms. Early clinical intervention, when individuals notice changes in “brain fog” or executive function, remains critical.
Wood concluded, “Your brain’s daily performance reflects everything it’s dealing with. If you start to notice something off, there’s still time to make changes if you need to.”
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
