Seven Steps to Managing Your Aging Memory

Andrew Budson, MD majored in chemistry and philosophy at Haverford College before receiving his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. Dr. Budson is Chief of Cognitive & Behavioral Neurology at the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Professor of Neurology at Boston University, and Lecturer in Neurology at Harvard Medical School. His career combines education, research, and clinical care to help those with memory disorders. Maureen O'Connor, PsyD received her doctorate in psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and completed her predoctoral internship at Yale University School of Medicine. In 2005, after completing her postdoctoral residency at the Bedford Veterans Affairs Hospital/Boston University School of Medicine, she accepted an appointment at the Bedford VA as Director of Neuropsychology, where she established the Memory Diagnostic Clinic to evaluate and treat Veterans with memory loss and provide support to their families. In 2019 she was appointed the Director of the Research Education Component at the Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.

Preface
Acknowledgments
How to Use This Book
About the Stories
Introduction

STEP 1. LEARN WHAT IS NORMAL MEMORY
Chapter 1: Which Memory Errors Can Happen to Anyone of Any Age
Chapter 2: How Does Memory Change in Normal Aging

STEP 2. DETERMINE IF YOUR MEMORY IS NORMAL
Chapter 3: What Kinds of Memory Problems Are Not Normal?
Chapter 4: What Should the Doctor Do to Evaluate My Memory?
Chapter 5: When Are Special Tests and Evaluations Needed?

STEP 3 UNDERSTAND YOUR MEMORY LOSS
Chapter 6: Will My Memory Get Better? Which Causes of Memory Loss Are Reversible?
Chapter 7: What Are Dementia, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Subjective Cognitive Decline?
Chapter 8: What Is Alzheimer's Disease?
Chapter 9: What Are Vascular Dementia and Vascular Mild Cognitive Impairment?
Chapter 10: What Else Could It Be? What Are Other Brain Disorders of Aging Affecting Thinking and Memory?

STEP 4 TREAT YOUR MEMORY LOSS
Chapter 11: Which Medications Can Help Memory Loss and Alzheimer's Disease?
Chapter 12: I'm Feeling a Bit Anxious and Depressed by My Memory Loss or My Diagnosis: What Should I Do About These Feelings?

STEP 5 MODIFY YOUR LIFESTYLE
Chapter 13: How Can Sleep Help My Memory?
Chapter 14: What Foods Should I Eat or Avoid to Help My Memory?
Chapter 15: Can Physical Activity and Exercise Help My Memory?

STEP 6 STRENGTHEN YOUR MEMORY
Chapter 16: What Can I Do to Strengthen My Memory?
Chapter 17: What Strategies Can I Use to Help My Memory?
Chapter 18: Which Memory Aids Are Helpful?

STEP 7 PLAN YOUR FUTURE
Chapter 19: Will Changes in My Memory Change My Life?
Chapter 20: Where Do I Go from Here?

Glossary
Further Reading
About the Authors
Index