By DR. GARY KEEPES
CATHOLIC HEALTHCARE
Memory loss is one of the things that people fear most about aging. I hear this often throughout my day from patients as they age. They fear not being able to manage their affairs on their own. They do not want to be a burden on their family. There is a normal memory loss that comes with aging. Sometimes, it is difficult to tell this apart from the early stages of dementia. People will often ask if there is a medicine they can take or something that they can do to prevent this decline in memory.
We do not have much in the way of medicines to treat memory loss or dementia. However, multiple studies show consistently that the most effective way to prevent memory loss is with a healthy lifestyle. We know this also about other disease states. The two most effective diets are a plant-based, whole-foods diet or a Mediterranean diet. We need to avoid processed foods and sugars, and try to eat more plant-based whole foods. We need to exercise on a regular basis. Thirty minutes a day of moderate intensive exercise seems to be the most effective. We all know these things; implementing them seems to be the hard part.
Mental exercise also is important to slow down age-related memory loss and decrease the risk of dementia. Reading is a very effective way to stimulate brain activity. Memorization is also another effective activity.
As Catholics, we have an embarrassment of riches in tradition. There are so many good books to read that, sometimes, it is difficult to know where to start. I recommend trying to tackle one of the great novels. I am continually amazed at the wisdom and insight that God has given authors throughout the history of humankind. Authors who are well worth looking into include Homer, Virgil, Dane, Cervantes, Jane Austin, Dickens, Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy, Undset, Faulkner, Flannery O’ Connor, Walker Percy, G.K. Chesterton, Tolkien and Michael O’Brien. There are many, many more. It will be worth your while to give them a try.
Poetry is another area that we can explore as Catholics. Gerard Manley Hopkins, William Blake, Robert Frost, John Donne, John Milton, T.S. Eliot and Shakespeare are just the tip of the iceberg. The language of poetry, with rhythm and rhyme, are like high intensity interval training for your neurons.
Another effective mental activity is memorization. I strongly recommend giving this a try. You could try to memorize a verse from scripture, perhaps one of the psalms. Psalm 23 would be a good one to start with. You could try to memorize something from the New Testament; perhaps part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount or the first paragraph of the Gospel of John. You could also try to memorize Paul’s great hymn of Jesus’ kenosis from Philippians 2:5-9. You could try, as I mentioned above, Gerald Manley Hopkins. He is a wonderful poet. Reading his twisting and turning of words is a great way to stimulate the brain. You might start with King Fishers Catch Fire or the Grandeur of God. Try to memorize one of the great Catholic prayers: the Memorare, Salve Regina, or the Apostles Creed. You could try to memorize the Our Father or the Hail Mary in Latin.
All of these are very effective exercises that will stimulate the brain and, hopefully, decrease the age-related memory loss and risk of Alzheimer’s that unfortunately is part of our human condition. We will never be able to completely prevent memory loss or Alzheimer’s dementia. It is part of the mystery of the cross. But I do believe that God desires our health and happiness. A significant part of Jesus’ ministry was healing the sick, the blind and the lame. Let us work with Christ to make our human body and mind as healthy as possible until, God willing, we are raised in the power of our resurrected bodies.
Dr. Keepes serves as a permanent deacon for the Diocese of Evansville. He is assigned to Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Petersburg, and Blessed Sacrament Parish in Oakland City. He also is a member of the Southwestern Indiana Guild of the Catholic Medical Association.