Purple Eyebrows & Age-Related Cognitive Decline

Posted by Raena Morgan

My mother Jean, who has just turned 80, was diagnosed with dementia three years ago. Her firm position on that diagnosis was: THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH MY MEMORY! End of story. Therefore, neither medication nor any form of natural supplementation could be factored into the situation. No condition equals no treatment, no intervention necessary. Ah, the beauty of denial—until things get, shall we say, colorful…

 
In October of 2008 my sister and I met up with my mother and stepfather at the doctor’s office for her annual check up. As my mother approached we could see that she was dirty and disheveled looking even though we had given John strict orders to check my mother’s appearance before letting her out in public. Forgetting to bathe seems to be a common problem with dementia. But then again, he couldn’t force my mother to wash. What was he going to do, turn the sprinkler on her?

 
That wasn’t the worst of it, though. Upon closer inspection we realized that my mother had painted her eyebrows bright purple, which put me in mind momentarily of the best selling book, “When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple,” and I stood pondering what this could mean?

 
On the other hand, my sister didn’t look at it philosophically at all--she was livid. Turning to our stepfather she demanded to know, “How could you let her out of the house looking like that?!” Puzzled, John asked innocently, “Like what?” My sister pointed to my mother. “Her eyebrows are purple!” Nonplussed he replied, “What? She always looks like that.”

 
Oh dear. My sister turned accusingly to my mother saying, “You— who have always been so meticulously dressed—how could you come out with your eyebrows painted purple?! Bristling, my mother stated in her defense, “Well the pencil said black!”

 
When we entered the examination room my mother declared fiercely to the doctor, “There’s nothing wrong with my memory!!” However, the doctor took issue with that and proceeded to quiz Jean about little things like what she ate for supper last night and what month it was, neither of which she could remember. Furthermore, when the doctor asked Jean who the president of the United States was, after considerable thought she answered, “Ronald Reagan!” The doctor just looked at us and shook her head saying, “Good luck. You’ve got your hands full.” And we do. 

 
Now, I understand that as you age you suffer many small indignities, sometimes not so small. Not having all of one’s faculties is a blow to one’s vanity. However, being in my early 60s, this incident was so unnerving that it sent me scurrying for answers. And, being that I subscribe to natural supplements I began researching brain nutrients! I have no pride!  I’ll admit it if I’m slipping and look for a solution post haste!

 
Serendipitously, as a host for iHealthTube.com, I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Parris Kidd, PhD, author of “Nature’s Brain Booster--Phosphatidylserine.” Otherwise known as PS, this vital lipid is a nutrient for memory, mood and stress. I was on the right path. For anyone dealing with age-related cognitive decline themselves or with a family member who is, I urge them to watch all of the interviews with Dr. Kidd (starting with the one below) and others on that topic on iHealthTube. Just type in “brain nutrients.” Additional research into the natural approach also indicates herbs like Ginkgo Biloba, and vitamin B6 and B12 as well as acetyl-L-Carnitine to enhance cognition.

There’s a wealth of research available on cognitive decline, dementia and Alzheimer’s, but in addition to supplementing I think we should take matters into our own hands by implementing lifestyle recommendations that can either prevent, or at least slow down ACRD. It should come as no surprise that exercise stimulates the production of brain chemicals that help neurons survive and adapt to new situations. And we have to exercise our brains as well! Keep learning. Keep doing new and stimulating things. The research even suggests learning to play a musical instrument—I took up piano!

 
But what about that purple compulsion? It came up again with a friend who is only in her mid-fifties, but when we met for lunch recently I was shocked to see that she had heavily shadowed her eyelids in iridescent purple! What could it mean? I was too polite to ask.   

 
Posted by Raena Morgan