Posts Tagged ‘memory’

Can Medication interfere with your cognitive abilities?  

It has been proven that medication causes cognitive impairment. Drugs taken for common medical conditions such as insomnia, allergies, or incontinence negatively affect the brain, and causes long term cognitive impairment. These drugs, called anticholinergics, block acetylcholine, a nervous system neurotransmitter, and are widely-used medications. They are sold over the counter. The offending drugs are Benadryl®. Dramamine®, Excedrin PM®k Nytol ®, Sominex®, Tylenol PM®, and Unisom®, there are others that are available by prescription.

Findings

This isn’t another bombshell; it is just another finding than adds to the pile of profit generating prescriptions that have terrible side effects.

Aging Expert Speaks out:

“Simply put, we have confirmed that anticholinergics, something as seemingly benign as a medication for inability to get a good night’s sleep or for motion sickness, can cause or worsen cognitive impairment, specifically long-term mild cognitive impairment which involves gradual memory loss. As a geriatrician I tell my Wishard Healthy Aging Brain Center patients not to take these drugs and I encourage all older adults to talk with their physicians about each and every one of the medications they take,” said Malaz Boustani, M.D., IU School of Medicine associate professor of medicine, Regenstrief Institute investigator and IU Center for Aging Research center scientist.

Seniors

Senior citizens are especially vulnerable to the side effects of anticholinergic medication. These medications cause acute confusion, poor attention, disorientation, and short-term memory problems. Any medicine that has a sedating effect can impair memory.

Many of the drugs typically taken by people over 50 can cause subtle thinking problems by themselves, but when several are taken at once, significant Alzheimer’s-like problems can appear. These problems may include memory loss, absentmindedness, confusion, disorientation, and emotional outbursts.

Pharmaceuticals

The customer-centric focus of pharmaceutical companies centers around consumer spending not health. The drug industry is not looking for a safe or environmental friendly dynamic advancement in medicine, they want to maintain value for their portfolio.

The mass appeal is to the millions of people who need it now, and want instant help. The consumer preference for quick fixes is what gives continuing relevance to this brand of medicine.

Marketing Matters

The major pharmaceutical houses know how to create sustainable campaigns. The audience for most products they produce is huge, and full of opportunities. Each chronic condition represents areas of untapped growth for the company.

A thinking consumer is the drug companies biggest fear.

Learning success means more than just an education. It is a way to start using your brain. Learning is more than taking in information. The ability to learn in a dynamic and creative way changes the process of how you use your brain.

The essence of body/brain compatible learning is the best way to teach people how to learn.

How To Learn

This is the secret that everyone knows. You don’t give someone a fish; you teach them how to fish. What most school children, and for that matter most people are missing is a way to learn that is effective.

Learning strategies are not part of a school’s curriculum. Most of the challenge for students is how to use their brain effectively. Yet, what is emphasized is memory or rote learning. 

This has become one of the dangers in the 21^st century. Memorizing was the key to learning and what was emphasized thought-out the education system from its inception. Now, for the first time we are seeing this method failing.

Rote Learning

Rote learning technique focuses on memorization rather than understanding of a subject. It is sometimes thought of as learning by repetition. The ideal situation in this type of learning is to recall the meaning of the material.

Rote learning is quick memorization of the material being taught. This is the basis for learning multiplication tables, periodic table in chemistry and basic formulas in science. This type of learning doesn’t work well at a more complex level. The world is becoming more complicated, and comprehension is what is needed to compete in today’s world.

Good memory techniques are important in helping you pass a test, but without meaningful comprehension you will just regurgitate information.

Learning

Learning is not about cramming in information as much as it is about engaging in the process. The mere recalling of facts doesn’t elevate or engage the student. Application of knowledge means building on and embellishing so that it can be used in a productive way.

Performance depends on the mastery of concepts, not mere memorization. Learning happens for different people in different ways. It could be auditory, visual, text, or tacit. The fact is it needs to be assimilated and experienced in an intuitive way. More than ever with all the technology we need meaningful education.  We need people who have an understanding and connect with the material taught. We need people that can solve problems not just sound credible, but can add value to the marketplace.

A deeper understanding of a subject results in authentic knowledge. Critical thinking is what will increase innovation and creativity.

Neuro-Science

Neuro-science uses movements that are based on body and brain research. There is a body/brain connection that must be understood to fully understand the dynamics of learning.To facilitate learning we have to realize there are a variety of senses such as; tasting touching, smelling, hearing and seeing that come into play.

Our educational system should come under scrutiny as the future of living and thriving in the 21^st century will depend on what goes on in the space between our ears.