How to Avoid Brain rot from Caregiver stress, Do the 40 choices.

blog 2 on this subject.

How to Avoid Brain rot from Caregiver stress, blog 2 on this subject.

Let’s talk about why reducing stress is so important for each caregiver. Recently, a patient presented who has been caring for his wife with Alzheimer’s disease for about three years. He has stopped doing things for his own health other than healthful eating. Caregiving is so burdensome, especially with no help (since their son lives 180 miles away). The stress is causing him medical problems.

A surprising statistic we’ve heard is that the elder caregiver has a 50% chance of dying before the person they are caring for (I cannot find a reliable reference—just one from a law firm--for that 50% statement, but I do know caregiving is often very stressful for your age equal elder partner with Alzheimer’s or other dementias)

One large study –integrating data on partner caregiver death rates found substantial death rate increase or no increase if the caregiver found purpose or just stress from caregiving.

“In 2000, the Census Bureau reported, just under 35 million Americans were 65 or over; by 2030, the number is projected to more than double, to more than 71 million” (https://www.brmmlaw.com/blog/2014/september/70-of-all-caregivers-over-the-age-of-70-die-firs/). Our elderly population is going to continue to grow over the years. Thus, even if you aren’t a caregiver now, you likely will be a caregiver or require care giving in the future. So, it is important for you to realize the challenges and know how to protect yourself.

Caregiver stress is something you may not realize you are suffering from. Being the primary caregiver whether that is your spouse, parent, child or friend can be mentally and physically taxing. Of course, you want to take care of your loved one, but you also have to take care of yourself. Here is how you can maintain your own wellbeing while being a caretaker.

Caregivers are vulnerable to developing “caregiver syndrome” which is the development of depression, anger, or guilt while caring for someone with dementia or other chronic illnesses. Yes caregiver stress often shows up as heart attacks, strokes or cancer, but most likely memory loss in the caregiver—that’s right, caregiving without positive purpose and stress management most often causes hippocampal size loss and memory problems in the caregiver—or what we hate to call but do, brain rot. So do the 40 choices that have been shown in at least two studies in humans to protect you from Brain Rot—including my favorites of calling posse, playing with posse, and purpose, plus doing 2 hours of speed of processing games on BrainHQ (no relationship).

The impacts of this stress are most severe for the elderly population. Elderly caregivers are at a 63% higher risk of mortality than non-caregivers in the same age group, according to a study by University of Pittsburgh researchers Richard Schulz and Scott Beach reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association in December 1999. Furthermore, another study from the NIH explained that “70% of All Caregivers Over the Age of 70 Die First” (https://www.brmmlaw.com/blog/2014/september/70-of-all-caregivers-over-the-age-of-70-die-first).

Older populations are not the only vulnerable ones, for parents caring for chronically ill children it is estimated that the caregiving parents die 8 years earlier(https://www.healthcentral.com/article/longterm-caregiving-may-shorten-life-up-to-eight-years). For this reason of shorter life expectancies for caregivers, it is imperative that they have a backup plan in place for the one requiring care. This could include another family member to care for them or arranging for a care facility in your/their trust document.

Here are a few ways to remain in touch with yourself and prioritize your own wellness. Firstly, remember POSSE, PURPOSE and PLAY.

· participate in a stress relieving activity whether that is gardening, going on a walk, or reading a new book.

· be social by taking a walk or playing pickleball with friends. This will allow your brain a mental break and get in some well needed laughter.

· consider SHARING THE CARE (a great book by that title tells you how to have friends find purpose in helping you arrange such) –or if you can, hire an additional caretaker, so you can take the time for yourself that you deserve.

At this point of the article, you may be thinking of ways they you can stay healthy and boost your longevity. An emerging technology that could be the solution is a process called apheresis or TPE.

Otherwise known as Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), a developing technology that could help to keep you and your loved ones younger. TPE is when blood plasma is removed and replaced with albumen and the person then produces new proteins to treat certain medical conditions. This form of treatment has been found to reduce biological age. Ultimately, this is highly significant because TPE may be used as a pivotal tool in longevity, so that you can live longer and healthier.

The key point is: CAREGIVING IS OFTEN VERY STRESSFUL. You need a stress management plan and a backup plan. We favor Posse, purpose and play –what could be better than having a friend or relative care an hour or two three times a week while you play with some of your posse members on a pickleball or other court involving physical activity. .

Thanks for reading.

Jermani Jones, research associate and

Michael F. Roizen MD