i "bumped" "Cognitive Issues" for you. You'll see there are lots of folks here with problems.

thanks for the reply, I have alot of those problems, and it makes being a mailman very hard.

I do not know if this will help or not.

Key aspects of Alpha Lipoic Acid include:(found in our bodies as well as spinich, etc is both fat and water soluable, Our bodies produce ALA to reduce inflammation)

Effective at removing heavy metals
Improves the immune system
Reduces free radical damage
Preserves cell function
Increases natural chemicals in the body that decline with age
Enhances the action of other antioxidants such as Vitamins C & E
Helps to improve memory & brain function
Effective at removing heavy metals
Improves Glucose utilisation extremely helpful for diabetics / those with insulin resistance
May have some anti-inflammatory properties

Acetyl-L-Carnitine is a molecule that occurs naturally in the body with a very similar structure as the well known amino acid carnitine, again levels diminish over time. It is recognised for its anti-aging and energy giving properties.

Key aspects of Acetyl-L-Carnitine include:

Helps to retard the aging process
Improves muscle strength
Supports the metabolism of food into energy
Helps to burn fat more efficiently
Transports long chain fatty acids to the cells to produce more energy
Increases blood oxygen
Can help to alleviate depression
Contributes to the production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine so may improve mental function (studies have shown that this chemical is depleted in the body in those with Alzheimer's Disease)

Absolutely,

was at a big 401k meeting at work the other day and i raised my hand to ask a question,,,yeah you're right...i forgot the question...lol

went to neuro and forgot half the things i wanted to ask him hmmmmmm

Have you had your B12 and Folate levels checked??

Again I keep looking into things and it keeps sending me back to vitamin deficiencies..maybe a malabsorption issue.

Hope below info helps.
http://dailystrength.org/c/Multiple-Sclerosis-MS/forum/3490891-absorption-cycle


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/05/010508083559.htm

Ties Vitamin B12 And Folate Deficiencies With Alzheimer's Disease
ScienceDaily (May 8, 2001) ST. PAUL, MN People with low levels of B12 or folate may have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, according to a study in the May 8 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

The long-range Swedish study of persons 75-years-old and older found that more than half (46 out of 78) of those diagnosed with dementia had both low levels of vitamin B12 or folate and Alzheimer's type dementia.

Study authors theorized that vitamin B12 or folate deficiencies affect Alzheimer's disease by influencing neurotransmitters or the levels of the amino acid homocysteine in the body. Either vitamin B12 or folate deficiency can increase homocysteine levels. Homocysteine has a neurotoxic effect that could lead to cell death or neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.

"In our study, we found that low levels of either of these two vitamins were related to an increased Alzheimer's disease risk," said study co-author Hui-Xin Wang. "Monitoring B12 and folate levels is important in order to avoid unfavorable conditions, even for those elderly people who are quite healthy in terms of cognition."

For more than thirty years, researchers have observed low vitamin B12 and folate levels in elderly people, according to Wang. It had also been previously theorized that this vitamin deficiency might be tied to neurological or psychiatric disorders. This study breaks new ground by connecting these deficiencies with Alzheimer's disease.

Vitamins B12 and folate (a form of water-soluble vitamin B) are found in common foods. Vitamin B12 is naturally found in animal foods including fish, milk and milk products, eggs, meat, and poultry. Leafy greens such as spinach and turnip greens, dry beans and peas, fortified cereals and grain products, and some fruits and vegetables are rich food sources of folate.

Study data were pulled from a population-based longitudinal study in Sweden called the Kungsholmen Project. A random sample of 370 non-demented persons, age 75 and older, and not treated with B12 or folate dietary supplements, was followed for three years to detect cases of Alzheimer's disease. Within the timeframe of the study, 78 people developed some form of dementia.


The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 17,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research.

For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit its web site at http://www.aan.com.

Hi Pat,

I am probably really close to losing my current job due to cognitive issues.

I am returning to work on Monday after a leave of absense FMLA to wean myself off of Klonopin/Clonazepam. I was taking this med for REM Sleep Disorder. It made my cognitive problems so many times worse, it got to the stage where I couldn't remember where I wanted the mouse to go when my arm started to move. I wasn't able to have any kind of business conversation without breaking down and shutting down. Then when everything else wasn't working I would start crying, everyone was ready for me to take this leave. Monday outa be fun.

My sleep neuro says that the CPAP machine will clear the brain fog and everything else that ever thought about ailing me...me I am not to sure, but I will try. Haven't been able to get a whole night of sleep on the machine.

My other neuro has set me up for the all day cognitive test. It is at the Patricia Neal Center in Knoxville. There is a 6 to 9 month waiting time. I don't know if anyone else is experiencing the same wait times, maybe they will chime in.

I know what you are going thru...its the pits.

Mailman, I bumped a question that I asked in the past to the LDN users.

Many people with MS complain of something they call "Brain Fog." You forget where you leave your keys, raise their hand to ask a question and forget what they wanted to ask, little short term memory.

Alzheimers has some of these same symptoms.
Thought the B12 and Folate Deficiency study information was VERY INTERESTING...

If you get tested please post results.

oops, what are we doing here?! oh, another brain fart! i was driving down a highway rt287 near morristown when i just took my foot off the gas and sat back, then suddenly realized what i'd done! needless to say i now travel closer to home on local roads!

Hey I travel that highway once a month...I get my Tysabri at Morristown Hospital.

cognative problems is why i lost the last job i had. i worked for a wonderful company that was willing to keep tailoring my job so i could still get a paycheck. they even gave me work to do from home like phone calls and stuffing envelopes and i couldn't even remember who i was calling or where i put my notes. finally they couldn't make my job any easier.

Cognitive problems are my BIGGEST problem these days. I have almost no short term memory, although I remember things that happened 20 years ago. I never go to the store without a list, but sometimes I forget and leave it in the car. I can't stand to be in a noisy enviroment, it's impossible for me to concentrate. Brain fog is a constant state of being for me. You are most definitely NOT alone.

My days are completley fragmented because of this. At the end of the day I have absolutly no idea what I was doing for 8 hours at work!

The first thing out of my neuro's mouth was to apply for disability. When I started getting goofy, she threw a battery of tests at me and took a fresh MRI. And I'm now documented as being cognitively impaired. Sigh.

If you have a union rep, call them. If you have new symptoms which weren't covered in your application for SSD, you can ammend it. Look into the Family Leave Act with your doctor. I qualified because of mental health issues. I burnt through my sick and vacation time, and the short-term disability benefit kicked in (on our plan this was 60 days).

Here's a link which may proove useful:

http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.ssd.html

The very best of luck. It's a long haul, but here we are.

I battle cognitive problems every day. I won't list them here because I have LOTS! My neuro is sending me to a specialist to test just how severe my cognitive problems are and then I'll be referred to another specialist to help me with them. So, yah, I know what you are talking about when it comes to cognitive problems! Boy, do I!