Forgetfulness is a Sign of Hormonal Imbalance
May 26th, 2010The word “dementia” has a certain finality to it that is jarring to even think about. It reminds us of nursing homes or hospital wards, and old age. However, dementia doesn’t happen over night: losing brain function that affects memory, thinking, language, judgment, and behavior takes years of gradual change.
There are at least five stages of cognitive decline that occur prior to full blown dementia, with numerous variations. Typically dementia begins as follows with the corresponding loss of specific brain chemicals:
- Brain processing speed: loss of dopamine
- Memory: loss of acetylcholine
- Attention: dopamine, acetylcholine, and serotonin imbalance
- personality and temperament change: GABA imbalance
- IQ changes: loss of dopamine
- Dementia: loss of all brain chemicals
Dementia can also be associated with a variety of medical conditions. Chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, thyroid disease, inflammation, elevated cholesterol, and high blood pressure, can all cause damage to our ability to think and remember. Smoking and other illicit drug use have also been linked to aiding the progression of dementia. These illnesses and conditioned are also linked to changes in brain chemistry. What’s more, they are also brought on by a decline in hormone production. Specific hormonal deficiencies that are linked to dementia are:
- DHEA
- Estrogen
- Growth hormone
- Testosterone
50% of all Americans are fully demented by age 80. You don’t have to be one of them. Take my Brain Quiz and see which brain chemicals you may be deficient in, and then read my book, THE EDGE EFFECT, on how to bring these chemicals back into balance through lifestyle changes that are as easy as diet, exercise, and nutrient supplementation. At the same time, you can learn how to safely augment your current hormone levels through bioidentical hormone therapies so that you’re memory and cognition can remain strong and stable for years to come. Make an appointment today and see if these life-changing therapies are right for you.