In 1981 I was in a serious car accident that I don’t remember. After an oncoming car crashed head-on into ours I passed out. When I finally woke up I was lying on a stretcher with my girlfriend hovering over me. Her facial expression was a mixture of I’m so happy you’re not dead and don’t worry, everything will be all right.
The deep gash in my forehead required sixteen stitches, and my parents admitted me to our local hospital for the doctors to run tests. Although I had a serious concussion I was released a few days later after the test results were negative.
Six years later I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
Multiple Sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information between the brain and body. One of those disruptions can be a change in cognition; approximately half of people diagnosed with MS develop problems with it. Memory, attention and concentration, information processing, verbal fluency, visiospatial functions (visual perception) or executive functioning (prioritizing and planning) can all be affected.
After my diagnosis I got busy with life. Marriage, motherhood, writing and volunteering were my priorities. I didn’t have time to think about what was going on in my brain. Of course there were obvious physical ailments manifesting from my disease. But after awhile I didn’t think about them; they simply became part of who I was.
According to The National Institutes of Health:
“Aging causes changes to the brain size, vasculature, and cognition. The brain shrinks with increasing age and there are changes at all levels.”
The website Psychology Today goes a step further by saying:
“We now know brain function need not decline with age, at least for people who stay healthy and mentally active. By the way, research shows that a lifetime of vigorous learning helps prevent or delay Alzheimer’s disease.”
Concussion. Disease. Aging.
I guess I’m living with the trifecta of possibilities why I sometimes can’t remember a name, what I ate for dinner last night or what I was just about to say. My brain has been shaken and stirred, and is aging every second of every hour of every day.
Enter Ruth Curran, a blogging friend I fell in love with after meeting two years ago. Ruth has been my guru for inspiration and information on brain health. She's an expert on the subject as an author, speaker, entrepreneur and brain game creator.
She’s also a brain injury survivor.
Ruth has more grit than most people I know. After a serious car accident she spent 18 months struggling to complete sentences and thoughts. After feeling frustrated she decided that she needed to do something to regain her quality of life. So she went back to school to get her Master’s degree in cognitive psychology!
Ruth discovered through her own personal experience (plus she struggled while both of her parents suffered from cognitive decline) that cognitive puzzles can help people regain some cognitive control.
That catapulted her to create her incredible website Cranium Crunches.
After getting to know Ruth's story and her work I realized that some of my cognitive difficulties may be a result of my concussion. (NOTE: Today a concussion is defined as a traumatic brain injury.) I doubt I’ll ever know if my brain blips are from age, disease or injury.
We all want to avoid losing brain power as we age. What's the solution for staying brain healthy?
Here are four ways I’m waging a personal war against brain dysfunction. I want to age gracefully and keep my brain cells as healthy as possible. Are you waging your own war?
Games, puzzles and teasers: I enjoy spending time on Ruth’s website, Cranium Crunches. It’s a fun and easy way to keep your brain in shape with amusing games and teasers that are so pleasurable. And while you’re there tool around the site to learn other ways you can keep your brain healthy.
Learn a new skill: Stretching your brain means learning something new, something that’s unlike anything you’ve learned before. My latest addiction is Periscope, a new and exciting app owned by Twitter that allows users to stream and watch live video broadcasts. The user has the ability to ask the broadcaster a question by typing a message in real time. I’m trying to learn all about Periscope (and gather up my courage) so I can begin creating my own broadcasts.
This is my Periscope profile
Crossword puzzles on the go: I’m currently playing seven separate Words with Friends games on my iPhone. Since my phone is always with me the puzzles are easily accessible no matter where I am. It’s a great way to keep my mind active.
A study from the Archives of Neurology “.. found people who kept their brains active most of their lives by reading, writing, completing crossword puzzles, or playing challenging games were a lot less likely to develop brain plaques that are tied to Alzheimer’s disease.” ~CBSNews.com (January 24, 2012)
Reading: I've always been a voracious reader. The best way to keep our minds active is to read, read, read. In my line of work I do a lot of research. Much of it is medical jargon so I’m learning new terms every day. Reading, processing and storing new information has a positive impact on our brains.
“Neuroscientists have discovered that reading a novel can improve brain function on a variety of levels. The recent study on the brain benefits of reading fiction was conducted at Emory University. The study titled, 'Short- and Long-Term Effects of a Novel on Connectivity in the Brain,' was recently published in the journal Brain Connectivity.” ~ Psychology Today
Check out Ruth’s new book, Being Brain Healthy: What My Recovery From Brain Injury Taught Me and How It Can Change Your Life. As Ruth says it’s “..about taking what is right in front of you and using it to nourish your brain and enhance your life.”
I can't help wondering about my forgefulness too. Is it aging or from the TBI.
You and Ruth are so right, staying active physically and mentally is so important and can actually stall Alzheimer's and dementia.
You are an amazing woman, Cathy and such an inspiration! Thank you for sharing your journey and all that you have learned to help others. You have made me feel differently about puzzles! 🙂
This is such an important message to share. The same thing happened toy friend who developed MS 14 years after a car accident. Ruth's book Can help so many people struggling with traumatic brain injury.
I love your strategies for sustaining and improving brain health. I am so excited about new learning and doing new, creative endeavors even though I am nearly 62 years old. Sometimes my biggest challenge is giving my poor brain a rest! I am fascinated with periscope and about to start learning about it. I do feel some intimidation as I freely share silly photos of myself but doing video...that is another realm that is outside my comfort zone. Let's see if I can follow your example and pinch my nose and jump off the shallow side of the pool.
Both you and Ruth are an inspiration. I have learned so much from both of you about resilience and strength. Kudos to both of you for so bravely sharing your stories so that others might benefit.
The change in terminology from concussion to Mild Traumatic Brain Injury is interesting isn't it? Along those same lines, we place different meanings on chemo brain and brain injury when really they are the same. And we see changes after a stroke or as a result of a disease like MS as a part of the condition and not as a brain injury. An assault to the brain, no matter the source, is an assault to the brain and if that assault brings about changes in thinking, acting, and living it is a brain injury.
I love your positive, hopeful approach to living a brain healthy life and the fact that you embrace the idea that you have the power to think, live, and be more! I love that we share this philosophy: It is this moment, right now, that matters and making the most of it is the best we can do!
I keep hoping and thinking that perhaps the Sudoku games and Candy Crush games I'm playing are helping me learn to "see patterns" more quickly, and better. I have gained skill. But then I do worry about my brain becoming marshmallow fluff. Thanks, Cathy, for sharing.
I love the 4 ways you exercise your brain, Cathy! I'm going to try a few for me.
It's a scary ride. And admire you greatly for all that you do.
I've never been able to do puzzles, get overwhelmed by everything there is to learn on the Internet.
Yet I have to believe that I didn't come this far to lose it. And that maybe the things I do do help!
Hi Cathy, informative and inspiring article. Thank you! (We must be the same age...I was an April baby). I've read, and from my experience, learning and speaking a foreign language helps too (I live in Italy). Suzanne
I *know* my cognitive issues are due to MS, but Ruth's fabulous book makes a difference in helping me work my noggin' in hopes of maximizing what's not damaged and possibly create new connections. Having you to bounce things off now and then makes a difference, too. How lucky I am to have such friends!
♥
I can't believe I haven't been to her site before, but I'll be heading there next! I was also in 2 separate car accidents (8 years apart) and I had concussions in both of those. It was after that that I received my RA diagnosis which also has brain fog and memory problems. I have always thought there was a connection.
My husband has been physically disabled from a brain injury as a result of a car accident over twenty years ago. For six years he fluctuated between being a vegetable and a maniac. Although he suffers with physical disabilities, he has regained complete brain function including memory. This was a result of taking food supplements that feed the brain and help to rebuild damaged cells. For this, I am eternally grateful.
I think it is so important to realize the brain can be retrained. Until I read Ruth's book, I didn't realize it. My girlfriend with chemo brain uses her exercises and so do I. I do them on dog walks and in bed, too.
I am so glad I read this, Cathy. I've had 2 concussions in my adult life and never considered they could have anything to do with not remembering what I had for dinner last night, among other things. I am a voracious reader and scrabble is a staple for me online. I used to do the crossword every day, but after we moved I let it slip. I'll have to get back to it.
Thank you so much for valuable information!
b
Very interesting post. Thank you for sharing! #MidLifeLuv
You and Ruth are two of the most inspiring women I know. I try to do all the activities you mentioned every day and I hope they will keep my brain healthy as I age. I think everyone should read Ruth's book!
Interesting post. I'm pretty sure I never suffered a TBI, but I've certainly noticed a decline in my memory---my recent memory. I can remember things from 40 years ago, but where I put my cell phone---not so much. One change is that it's more difficult to remember things that happened while I was distracted thinking about something else. I've come up with coping techniques (if I didn't write it down it didn't happen), but it's still quite irksome. Unless everyone I know who is my age has Alzheimers, I'm not alone. I will definitely try out Cranium Crunchers and I'm keeping my brain engaged by learning a new skill (blogging) and a new creative outlet (Zentangle). I'd like to add learning a new foreign language to that list. I think there is also evidence that aerobic exercise nourishes our aging brains.
Hi Cathy! Good for you for doing absolutely everything you possibly can to keep your body and your brain as healthy as possible. I find everything about our brains to be fascinating and read about it as much as possible. I've also followed Ruth's blog and work because she writes about all sorts of interesting and related things. I tend to think that all of us bloggers have an advantage because we are constantly learning new things and challenging ourselves to work our websites. After two weeks of website "issues" I feel like my brain is "sore" from a HUGE workout! Let's all keep learning and growing! ~Kathy
You are two remarkable women! I just followed you on Periscope too! I'll be sure to look for your scopes!
Cathy, I knpw I'm somewhat delayed in adding my comment. I'm not great with time management therefore, sometimes it takes me a little longer to reach my goals, which is the most important thing to me. I do try to set attainable ones for myself. I am so sorry to learn about your horrific accident years ago. And then years later, to get your diagnosis of MS! I admire your strength! I so look forward to reading your posts. I love learning about new things which you seem to always write about. I am anxious to check out Cranium Crunches. Life over fifty is very interesting! Hope this reaches you well! Thank you!
xo Janet
p.s. I'm currently re-reading " To Kill a Mockingbird "