Cognitive dysfunction (also called lupus fog or memory problems) occur in around 50% of people who have systemic lupus erythematosus. This slide show goes along with my Youtube video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9H4QT6EjGo&list=HL1399166249&feature=mh_lolz and the accompanying handout here: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4H3j0I3kMuPRTRiUFJXMWZTTHM/edit . For more daily tips and facts about lupus... follow me and "LIKE" me at www.facebook.com/LupusEncyclopedia.

1. H O W T O I M P R O V E Y O U R M E M O R Y
LUPUS:
MEMORY PROBLEMS
Donald Thomas, MD, FACP, FACR

2. Memory Problems ?
Hard to concentrate?
Fuzzy-headed?
Forgetful?

3. Memory Problems ?
Hard to concentrate?
Lupus Fog
Fuzzy-headed?
Forgetful?

4. Cognitive
dysfunction

5. MEMORY PROBLEMS IN LUPUS
• 2010 study: Arthritis and Rheumatology:
• Lupus patients = 50%
• Rheumatoid arthritis = 61%
• Multiple sclerosis = 75%

6. WHAT I WILL COVER
• Causes of memory problems in lupus
• What to do about it:
• You Game Plan!

7. DO I HAVE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE?
• Alzheimer’s disease = degenerative process
• Get’s worse over time
• 6th most common cause of death in the USA
• “Lupus fog” rarely gets worse
• “Lupus fog” does not become Alzheimer’s disease
• Rare less than 60 years old

10. •ALZHEIMER’S
Poor judgment and
decision making
regularly
•LUPUS FOG
• Make bad
decisions
occasionally

11. •ALZHEIMER’S
Poor judgment and
decision making
• Can’t manage a
budget
•LUPUS FOG
• Make bad decisions
occasionally
• Miss monthly
payment

12. •ALZHEIMER’S
• Poor judgment and
decision making
• Can’t manage a
budget
• Lose track of
date/season
•LUPUS FOG
• Make bad decisions
occasionally
• Miss monthly payment
• Forget the date;
remember it later

13. •ALZHEIMER’S
• Poor judgment and
decision making
• Can’t manage a
budget
• Lose track of
date/season
• Difficulty having a
conversation
•LUPUS FOG
• Make bad decisions
occasionally
• Miss monthly payment
• Forget the date;
remember it later
• Sometimes forgetting
which word to use

14. •ALZHEIMER’S
• Poor judgment and
decision making
• Can’t manage a
budget
• Lose track of
date/season
• Difficulty having a
conversation
• Misplacing things;
unable to retrace
steps
•LUPUS FOG
• Occasional bad
decisions
• Miss monthly payment
• Forget the date;
remember it later
• Sometimes forgetting
which word to use
• Losing things from
time to time

15. ACTION PLAN!

16. STEP 1:
SEE A NEUROLOGIST?
• If > 60 years old
• If early dementia runs in your family
• If memory interrupts your life
• See a neurologist
• With special interest in dementia
• Neuropsychologists
• Dr. Majid Fotuhi

17. IRREVERSIBLE CAUSES
• Age
• Genetics
• Decreased kidney function
• Chronic kidney disease
• Stroke
• CNS lupus
• Concussion
• Closed head injury

18. TREATABLE CAUSES
• Depression
• Fibromyalgia
• Lack of exercise
• High blood pressure, over weight, diabetes,
smoking, high cholesterol
• Anxiety disorders
• Lack of sleep
• Antiphospholipid antibodies
• Medications
• Excessive alcohol

19. MEDICINES TO AVOID
• Ambien
• Anti-histamines
• Benadryl
• Benzodizepines
• Valium
• Ativan
• Opioid narcotics pain relievers
• Tramadol
• Hydrocodone
• Oxycodone
• Fentanyl
• Morphine

20. TREATMENTS THAT DON’T WORK
• Gingko biloba
• Multiple vitamins
• Omega-3 fatty acid supplements
• DHA supplements
• Soy protein supplements

21. TREATMENTS THAT PROBABLY DON’T
HELP
• Antioxidant vitamins
• Vitamin E, C, beta-carotene
• Vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid

24. TREATMENTS THAT PROBABLY HELP

25. TREATMENTS THAT PROBABLY HELP:
OMEGA-3 FATTY ACID FOODS

26. TREATMENTS THAT PROBABLY HELP:
MEDITERRANEAN DIET

27. TREATMENTS THAT PROBABLY HELP

28. TREATMENTS THAT PROBABLY HELP:
FLAVONOID RICH FOODS

30. TREATMENTS THAT PROBABLY HELP

31. ALCOHOL SERVING PER DAY FOR
WOMEN

32. TREATMENTS THAT DO HELP

33. • Cross-trains brain
• Memorize steps
• Forces Balance
• Listening
• Decreases stress
• Improves mood
D
A
N
C
E

36. 7 MINUTE HIIT:
HIGH INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING

37. LUPUS EXERCISE STUDY:
138 WOMEN WITH SLE
• Non-exercisers
• 23% with memory problems
• Over-weight
• 23% with memory problems

38. LUPUS EXERCISE STUDY:
138 WOMEN WITH SLE
• Non-exercisers
• 23% had memory problems
• Exercisers
• 5% had memory problems
• Over-weight
• 23% had memory problems
• Normal weight
• 6% had memory problems

39. TREATABLE CAUSES
• Depression
• Anxiety disorders
• Lack of sleep
• Fibromyalgia
• Lack of exercise
• High blood pressure, over weight, diabetes,
smoking, high cholesterol
• Antiphospholipid antibodies
• Medications

40. TREATMENTS THAT DO HELP

46. Brain games without computer
Get out of comfort zone
Force brain to do uncomfortable tasks

51. MEMORY IMPROVEMENT HABITS

53. MEMORY IMPROVEMENT HABITS