Thinking and memory problems, Cognitive difficulties, often known as Thinking and memory problems, are frequent in MS patients. Memory, attention span, planning, decision-making, comprehension, and focus are all issues.
Around half of all patients with MS have problems with thinking and remembering. Cognition is the medical word for thinking, and cognitive disorders are difficulties with mind and memory.
Strategies for compensating for cognitive issues, as well as brain-training activities, can all be beneficial.
Memory, attention span, planning, decision-making, comprehension, and focus may all be affected.
Many persons with MS refer to ‘brain fog’ or ‘cog-fog’ as a feeling that their cognitive processes aren’t as well-organized or consistent as they were before they had MS.
Cognitive issues are frequently caused directly by MS, although they can also be a side effect of treatment. Other MS symptoms like fatigue, worry, or sadness might exacerbate your cognitive problems.
Dementia is not the same as cognitive difficulties.
The majority of people’s cognitive symptoms are minor and change from day to day. You may not recognise them at first as symptoms of MS and attribute them to other factors such as stress, overwork, exhaustion, or just growing older.
Thinking and memory problems, Living with a mental illness
Problems with thinking or remembering may appear minor, but they can have a significant impact on MS patients’ day-to-day lives. It might be aggravating to discover that your cognitive problems are going unnoticed by others around you. Your situation may not appear as awful to others as it appears to you.
Others aren’t aware of the extra, unseen work you put in to get the same result.
To gain understanding or appropriate help, you may need to describe your cognitive symptoms to friends, family, or coworkers. It’s important to realise that you haven’t lost your skills; they just take a bit longer to convey in most instances.
You may continue to do things your way if you have the appropriate support and strategies in place.
The longer you have MS, the more likely you are to have cognitive issues. According to research, cognitive problems generally remain the same or only progressively deteriorate over time. You have time to devise ways to counteract any setbacks or to teach your brain to slow down any deterioration.
What causes mental health issues?
MS causes cognitive difficulties because nerve damage in the brain interrupts the transmission of electrical impulses, lowering the speed and accuracy of information.
Consider the nervous system as a telephone exchange: if the insulation on certain wires is damaged and other lines are broken, some calls will be answered incorrectly and others will not be answered at all.
The following factors might exacerbate cognitive issues:
- Fatigue or a lack of sleep causes everything to slow down. Pace yourself and schedule hard tasks for when you have the greatest energy.
- Physical exertion – If you have trouble with your balance or mobility, you may find that you need to concentrate more when moving about to avoid falling. This implies you’ll have less ability to focus on other things while walking, such as carrying on a conversation. Balance your physical and cognitive activity so that you can focus on only one thing at a time.
- Stress, worry, and depression can all have an effect on cognition. They can sometimes be hard to tell apart from other MS symptoms. In this case, a psychologist’s examination may be beneficial.
- Infections – as well as other ailments – can exacerbate cognitive issues.
- Medications, including several widely used to treat MS symptoms including bladder difficulties, stiffness, and pain. All drugs may be discussed with a doctor, pharmacist, or MS nurse to determine the potential side effects.
- additional factors that aggravate symptoms, such as heat or tight or exciting situations In hot conditions, try to remain cool or utilise relaxation techniques to cope.
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