Ask The Doctor: Supplements For Brain Health, Oversleeping Dementia, Dyspepsia
Q. Should I take any vitamins or supplements for brain health? I want to do all I can to keep sharp!
A. Supplements isolate compounds and don’t contain all the synergistic benefits of other nutrients, so it’s best whenever possible to get vital nutrients from food sources. Fruits and vegetables, for example, also provide dietary fiber. A high-fiber diet may help reduce inflammation in the body, which may then lower the risk of depression, according to a 2020 study in the journal Nutrition Reviews. Inflammation also has been implicated as a contributing factor for Alzheimer’s and other causes of dementia. As people get older, it can be quite easy to fall short of some nutrients. For example, you might eat healthy meals, just in much smaller portions than in your younger years. Older adults may fall short on vitamin B12, an important nutrient for the blood and the brain. Symptoms of this deficiency include anemia, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness, and possible mental problems like depression, memory loss, or behavioral changes. A blood test can discern which vitamins you may be lacking, and it may then be wise to supplement with vitamins. A nutritionist can help you customize a healthy eating plan.
Q. Is it common for people with dementia to sleep a lot during the day?
A. If your mom has gradually started sleeping more, that’s an indicator that the disease is likely progressing. The type of dementia a person has can affect sleep in different ways. For example, a person who has dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s disease can be very restless at night, and have nightmares and hallucinations. This may disrupt sleep, causing
a person to feel very tired during the day and wanting to sleep in longer. As dementia damages more of the brain, people also become weaker and more frail, making it more difficult to do simple daily tasks. It can become overwhelming and exhausting to do common chores and activities of daily living. Other factors to consider are medications that can make a person tired. Both
older men and women are more prone to sleep apnea, which disrupts nightly sleep, leading to fatigue during the day. But if sleeping more is a sudden occurrence, there may be another cause. Sudden sleepiness may be due to an infection or other condition that your mom may not be aware of or able to articulate. In general, however, dementia can disrupt normal sleep/ wake patterns. As the disease progresses, people may stay up later, wake more often, and become disoriented about time of day and unable to tell if it is day or night. It may be helpful to limit daytime sleeping to catnaps, so as to help reorient her to a nighttime sleep pattern. But consult with her physician to best guide your next steps.
Q. What is functional dyspepsia?
A. Dyspepsia, otherwise known as indigestion, refers to conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract, such as pain, bloating, and nausea. It’s a general term used when no obvious cause can be found for symptoms. Though it’s usually not a serious disorder, dyspepsia can be an ongoing challenge for some people. It may make it difficult to eat well because a person may feel too full too quickly, experience heartburn and bloating, and in some cases be fearful of eating because of symptoms and lose too much weight. Some people may have a Helicobacter pylori bacterial infection in their stomach. A diagnosis requires ruling out other conditions, such as stomach ulcers, gallstones, and stomach cancer. Treatments include lifestyle changes such as reducing any ongoing stress and anxiety, avoiding food and drinks that make matters worse (e.g., caffeine, alcohol, and high-fat foods) and most doctors recommend eating several small meals instead of a few larger ones. Medications may be needed to treat a bacterial infection, stomach acid, and anxiety or depression. Deep breathing exercises and mindfulness meditation can be helpful. While there’s no cure, symptoms can be intermittent, and many people can better manage the condition with lifestyle changes.
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