1.     What is dementia?

1. A disease involving memory loss that is entirely separate from Alzheimer’s disease
2. A decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life
3. Another term for Alzheimer’s
4. A mental illness that’s usually alleviated through meditation

2.    What sort of memory lapse would be cause for concern?

1. You forget the way to your local grocery store.
2. You forget the name of the movie you saw last week, then remember it a few hours later.
3. You forget where you last put your keys.
4. You go to the grocery store for milk, then buy five other things and forget the milk.

3.    What besides Alzheimer’s can cause memory loss?

1. Depression
2. Some medications
3. Stress
4. All of the above

4.    What part of the brain is crucial to the formation of memories?

1. Hippocampus
2. Cerebellum
3. Frontal lobe
4. Thalamus

5.    What’s known to increase brain functioning in healthy adults?

1. Vitamin A
2. A high-fat, low-carb diet
3. Exercise
4. All of the above

6.    What’s known to decrease brain functioning in healthy adults?

1. Smoking
2. Frequent socializing (besides intellectual gatherings, such as book groups)
3. Reading celebrity magazines
4. Drinking coffee

7.    What are mnemonics?

1. Antioxidants that have been shown to boost brainpower
2. Medications for chronic forgetfulness that are now sold over the counter
3. Games, such as crossword puzzles, that improve memory and cognitive ability
4. Little cognitive aids or devices that help you remember things

8.    What is transient global amnesia?

1. A common affliction of people who are traveling, characterized by the inability to remember what
   country one is in
2. A sudden attack of memory loss in which one can’t remember any recent events
3. A cultural phenomenon in which a group of people forget their collective, often-traumatic history
4. When people wake up from anaesthesia and for several days can’t remember anything about their past,
   including their own name

Answers: Find out how well you did!

[First published on AARP]

For more information: Alzheimer’s and Brain Training How to Prevent Alzheimer’s Is it Dementia or Alzheimer’s? WHO Dementia Facts