Memory and Concentration - Can they be Improved?

[adksleepygal]

I have had concentration problems now for 15 plus years (was diagnosed with clinical depression - had a shrink and meds and played that game awhile - very little help there) Short-term Memory has been a problem at least 3 years and last winter I was worked up for early Alzheimer's - so scary. Nothing was found on the studies done so hence the sleep study was ordered and voila!
My question is - does anyone know or have experience with this memory thing related to OSA and can it improve? I would love that but need to know the truth also so no sugar-coating please Thanks for any input!

[Roman Hokie]

Well, I tend to spend time on statistics and probability discussions and mentally challenging exercises from those and geometric math puzzles. That's probably something positive for left-brained and analytical sorts. For right-brained types, I have no idea.

Check out http://www.puzzles.com for some fun brain stimulating activities. Sudoku is beneficial as well.

[Emilia]

You should definitely bookmark Dr. Park's website, or susbscribe to his blog. He is also on Facebook. I did a basic search on his site for 'memory loss' and the following link will take you to his many articles in which this is discussed: http://doctorstevenpark.com/index.php?s=memory+loss

[nanwilson]

Yes you can increase your memory and brain power. Prior to cpap I was doing a daily morning crossword type puzzle and it took me about an hour to complete, now after 6 months of cpap, I can do the same puzzle in 20 minutes. I definitely notice the difference when I have had a bad night, my reasoning functions are not so sharp and I find my "swiss cheese brain" is back And I've worked soooooo hard at getting rid of the swiss cheese
Keep it up, you will find your brain will get rid of that fuzzy morning feeling very soon.
Good luck
N

[JohnBFisher]

Unless there is very severe trauma, the brain is an amazingly adaptive organ. If you had untreated sleep apnea for years, it is possible it will take quite a while for your memory to get significantly better. Many people note that it takes about six months or so. Others experience much better memory almost immediately. It really all depends.

My own experience what that I felt much better almost immediately. But problems with memory tended to take longer (months). But I continued to work on improving my memory.

Of course, please remember that as you age you will naturally find your memory is not as good as it was. My famous phrase, as I enter a room: "Now why did I come in here?" It's perfectly natural to have some loss of memory. As another poster noted, puzzles and other challenges tend to help us improve our memory.

Practice does make perfect. It helps the brain learn. It helps it adapt. So, even if long term lack of oxygen during the night decreased your ability to remember, if you remove the lack of oxygen (via xPAP therapy), then your brain will once again be able to learn. To learn how to remember.

And you should (over time and with practice) find that your memory is not as much of a problem as it once was.

[Roman Hokie]

Completely forgot! Nintendo has a handheld game system called the DS Lite and DSi that offers as two applications (separate purchase) games called Brain Age and Brain Age 2. Supposedly fantastic to keep you on your toes.

[BlackSpinner]

I have had concentration problems now for 15 plus years (was diagnosed with clinical depression - had a shrink and meds and played that game awhile - very little help there) Short-term Memory has been a problem at least 3 years and last winter I was worked up for early Alzheimer's - so scary. Nothing was found on the studies done so hence the sleep study was ordered and voila!
My question is - does anyone know or have experience with this memory thing related to OSA and can it improve? I would love that but need to know the truth also so no sugar-coating please Thanks for any input!

Personally the cpap has been the best thing that ever happened to me. Since I am a programmer constantly having to find and learn new stuff I can tell that my memory and ability to learn new stuff soared in the first few month of being on cpap.

One example was that when I went in fro my initial meeting with the sleep doctor he spoke in mangled English because I found the French to confusing, 3 month later I was able to again speak in French with him to discuss my condition.

[roster]

My question is - does anyone know or have experience with this memory thing related to OSA and can it improve?

I can't remember what my memory was like before CPAP.

[kempo]

I have had trouble remembering people's names for the past 15-20 years. It was so bad I told my wife to never ask me to introduce her to someone who has walked up to us and started to talk with me. I have surprised myself here recently by the number of names that I am recalling. I started cpap this past July.

An efficient amount of oxygen, 24/7, does wonders for the brain.

[carbonman]

My question is - does anyone know or have experience with this memory thing related to OSA and can it improve? I would love that but need to know the truth also so no sugar-coating please Thanks for any input!

Cpap definitely made it possible for my brain to repair.
I was/am able to start playing my guitars again.
Pre-OSA I had quit playing because I was loosing my
coordination and could not remember anything.
I was just not able to do it.
Post-OSA, It took about 3mths and I was thinking about
selling everything. I thought for old time sake give'm
each a go. WOW...this isn't as bad as I thought.
I play everyday again. Learning new material exercises your
brain and promotes recovery.

I got a new computer that had a game called Mahjong.
It involves a stack of tiles w/different figures/numbers/symbols.
You have to find the matching pairs of tiles and click on them.
The object is to match all the pairs and make the stack of
tiles go away. When I first started, it would take hours to
complete a game. After about 2mths, I could complete a game
in less than half an hour.

I also work on teaching myself to be ambidextrous.
I work at learning to do common things w/my left hand.
Wash dishes, use a screw driver, sweep, use my mouse....
all these things stimulate the brain in new ways.

There is not doubt that cpap is responsible for this.

[DreamLady]

The main reason I agreed to a sleep study in the first place was severe CRS syndrome (can't remember stuff). I just kept getting worse to the point I couldn't remember a phone number long enough to dial it. Would walk down the hall to the elevator, and forget which floor I was heading for by the time I got there. Consistently dialed the wrong number when dialing numbers committed to memory for years. Would forget to give people important messages within 2 minutes of hearing the message, etc. My work performance was, to put it mildly, crappy, and things were not getting done correctly or on time for the first time in my working career.

Fast forward and after going on six weeks of cpap, my memory is already improved, and so has my work performance. I was told the improvement could continue for up to 6 months or so given the number of years I've probably had apnea.

Thank God for whoever invented cpap, is all I can say!

[Moby]

exercise helps too.

[Physician]

What was the question ? I forgot.

[M.D.Hosehead]

I do remember the question, and I had an answer, but I forgot what it was.