When my mother was in her mid-50’s, which would put us back in the late 90’s – she would say things like “Oh, my brain” while tossing her head to the side when trying to remember this or that. It seemed she was frequently in a state of disdain about the functioning of her brain and how it was letting her down. I can remember hearing her say these words sometimes countless times a day. It seemed like this new brain of hers was here to stay.

And yet, from an onlooker’s standpoint, the changes in her brain seemed more like challenges than major defects. After all, she was in her 50’s, and one shouldn’t expect her brain to work like it did in her 30’s and 40’s, right?

Let me see if I can have you think about this situation a little bit differently.

We know that colonoscopies are recommended for those 45 and older, right? Well, Dr. Bredesen recommends a similar assessment at age 45 but for your brain…a cognoscopy!

“If each one of us were to obtain a cognoscopy, and target our identified risk factors for cognitive decline, we could truly make Alzheimer’s a rare disease, just as it should be.” – Dale Bredesen

What exactly does a cognoscopy entail? According to Apollo Health, here’s what you need to get started:

1) A set of blood tests that reveal risk factors for dementia
2) A complete set of simple, online cognitive assessments that indicate whether there are any areas of concern at the moment
3) An MRI scan with volumetrics. This is optional for those without symptoms but recommended for those who have cognitive symptoms or whose cognitive assessments suggest any degree of cognitive impairment.

If only we had known that there was a way to identify cognitive decline BEFORE it reached the Alzheimer’s stage, we could have prevented my mother’s illness from becoming a full-blown disease.

So, while we can’t go back in time, I gained knowledge about when it’s time for a cognoscopy and I’m going to share them with you. These are the top 3 considerations from where I sit:

1) You’re at least 45 years old. Symptoms or no symptoms, with 1 out of 3 seniors dying of Alzheimer’s or another dementia, this disease is no joke and we must identify our risk factors early on.

2) You start to experience frustrations around your thought patterns or ability to remember. These are not the only symptoms of dementia, and one person’s relationship to their brain is different from another person’s. If you’re feeling frustrated that you can’t do certain things you used to be able to do, then it’s time to dig deeper. Do NOT disregard your feelings, or worse, allow other people to tell you that everything is fine or that you’re just getting older. Honor your feelings and use them as a guide to help you.

3) Your family begins to expect you to be less reliable when it comes to thinking through a problem. I remember the point at which I minimized my mother’s input because some of her conclusions didn’t make much sense. I rationalized that her older brain couldn’t keep up with my younger brain but that is simply not true. An older brain – if kept in excellent condition – can be just as functional as a younger brain. Wipe out any thoughts that simply won’t accept this fact.

So in summary:

• You can keep your brain in excellent condition – even into your golden years
• You do not need to succumb to the ails of Alzheimer’s like 1 in 3 seniors will
• It is vital that you do not disregard the pain and frustration of a sluggish brain in your 40’s and 50’s. This is simply a symptom that you want to catch early on, for early intervention is the best way to prevent any illness from progressing.