Is there a drug I can take to improve my memory? DR. MARTIN SCURR answers your health questions

I am 81 years old and in good health but my short term memory is not good. Are there any medications I can take?

David Woods, via email.

Short-term memory problems are usually a normal part of aging, but they can also be a sign of mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

This is the state between normal mental functioning and dementia. More than a quarter of people your age — ages 80 to 84 — will have MCI, according to a 2018 review of 34 studies published by the American Academy of Neurology.

Some of them will develop dementia, but there are steps you can take to minimize the deterioration in brain function.

MCI is diagnosed using a series of tests to check if your memory and thinking skills are below the norm for someone your age. It could also include a brain scan.

Short-term memory problems are usually a normal part of aging, but they can also be a sign of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). [File photo]

Diagnosis can be a complex process as there are no standard tests, so it is difficult to say what is “normal”.

Those most at risk have risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, a history of stroke or heart disease, and bad mood.

Whether or not you’ve been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, the treatment is the same.

Unfortunately, no medication has been proven to help – whether conventional medication or herbal and dietary supplements.

However, tackling risk factors is crucial. This includes investigating medications that might impair cognitive function. If you are taking benzodiazepines (e.g. diazepam), anticholinergic antidepressants (e.g. amitriptyline), antihistamines (e.g. chlorphenamine) or opioids (e.g. codeine) this should be evaluated by your GP to see if they can be dropped.

Diagnosis can be a complex process as there are no standard tests, so it is difficult to say what is “normal”. [File photo]

The focus then is on taking care of yourself. Make sure you get proper sleep – Sleep is the time when the brain eliminates waste products that build up during waking hours and are linked to Alzheimer’s.

Movement is also important. A number of small studies have shown that exercise improves both immediate and delayed recall.

Even a daily walk, as long as you can manage it regularly, has a beneficial effect.

My partner has had cysts in his testicles for several years. He had surgery, but they came back. They’re not painful, but do they need to be monitored with regular scans?

name and address given.

What you describe are epididymal cysts – harmless, fluid-filled growths.

They can vary in number (some men have only a single lump, while others have a collection of multiple cysts, either in the scrotum or testicles) and size (some grow to 2 cm or more).

They develop in the epididymis, a tortuous tube that lies at the exit of each testicle. Its job is to transport and store sperm so they can mature. Why these cysts develop is not clear. One theory is that they could be triggered by inflammation following infection or due to some type of developmental disorder.

Although epididymal cysts are relatively common, finding them understandably can raise alarms due to fears that they may be testicular cancer. And men are generally recommended to have an ultrasound.

If multiple cysts are present, they are usually removed (in some cases, they can then recur) in a short procedure performed on an outpatient basis in the hospital.

But please rest assured, these cysts do not become cancerous or become infected. Regular follow-up examinations are therefore not necessary. However, I would always recommend men to do regular self-examinations and see their GP if they find a new lump to worry about.

My advice to your partner is to accept the current state of affairs – they will only need to undergo further surgery if the size and mass of the recurring cysts become a problem.

Write to Dr. scurr

Write to Dr. Scurr at Good Health, Chron, 9 Derry Street, London, W8 5HY or by email at [email protected]. uk – Provide your contact details. The answers should be understood in a general context and always consult your family doctor if you have any health concerns.

In my opinion…double standards of gyms selling junk food!

One of the UK’s major gym chains is run by a national organization which is actually a healthcare charity.

His goal – to build a healthier nation – is a noble intention. So why is there a large display with oversized bags of chips for sale at the entrance to my branch? And why is there a vending machine in the Glasgow branch that sells cola, a flavored sugar solution?

Sugar has no nutritional value and is widely recognized as a contributing factor to the rise in obesity. If a gym needs a takeout, at least open a coffee shop that’s committed to nutrition choices.

Gyms need to end this double standard and the hypocrisy of putting exercise equipment and junk food in the same environment.